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OU Volleyball Players To Play In China
By: Lu Wu
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The Ohio Women’s Volleyball team wrapped up its spring season late last month. No major competition is ahead, but for two members of the team, a special summer trip will bring them a new taste of the sport they are already familiar with.
Kelly Lamberti and Chelsea Bilger, who both are hitters on the team, will travel to Beijing this July to play in the China-USA Challenge Invitational Tournament.
According to Bring It Promotions, the company that organized the tour, players will compete against the Chinese Junior National Team and top Chinese collegiate and club teams from Beijing and other cities.
Bring It Promotions selected players from top American college volleyball teams to form a single team that will play on the tour.
The team will leave for Beijing on July 1 and return on July 12.
Head Coach Ryan Theis said the OU Volleyball team has sent several players to play professionally overseas over the last few years.
Theis said training overseas gives players the opportunity to experience different styles of volleyball.
“It’s amazing sometimes how a week of playing in a different style can make a player a lot better,” Theis said.
Playing with other high level players is also a good learning experience, Theis said.
Lamberti plays as an outside hitter, and often leads the team in kills.
Last October, Lamberti was named Mid-American Conference offensive player of the week, according to the team’s news release.
As one of the fastest players on the team, Bilger has had several impressive games in her first year as a college volleyball player.
Bilger, who studies anthropology in college, said she thought China would be the best place to go visit.
“I am really excited,” Bilger said.
Besides the opportunities to compete with different opponents, the players are scheduled to visit Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City.
The program’s website said they will also have plenty time to go shopping.