NORMAL, Ill. – Illinois State rising senior Jaelyn Keene will join a team of American college volleyball players to compete at the 2017 European Global Challenge in Pula, Croatia, as part of a U22 team sponsored by Bring It Promotions. The 12-day trip begins July 5.
The team will play three matches in advance of the tournament, while visiting five European countries on the trip that culminates at the tournament in Croatia.
Keene's team will start its tour in Prague, Czech Republic, where it will practice and play two matches versus the Czech Junior National Team, July 6-8. From there, the team will travel to Maribor, Slovenia – by way of Vienna, Austria – to play one more match on July 9, before finishing the tour at the European Global Challenge, July 10-14. The team will also do a sightseeing tour of Venice, Italy, on July 15 before returning stateside on July 16.
"This is a great opportunity, and I could not be more excited to play the sport I love and be able to travel around Europe for the first time. I have never traveled outside of the United States so this will be an awesome adventure," Keene said. "This will help me gain experience on the court that I will bring back to our gym after this experience is over. This will be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and I cannot wait for July."
The team will be comprised mostly of players from the Midwest, with players from Creighton, DePaul, Kent State, Marshall, Northern Illinois and Pittsburgh joining Keene on the roster. Former Illinois State players to compete at the European Challenge include Ashley Rosch (2014), Kaitlyn Early (2013) and Erin Lindsey (2008).
Keene has been a key member of the Illinois State volleyball team for the past three seasons. She is a three-time All-Missouri Valley Conference First-Team selection.
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