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ÃÛÌÒ´«Ã½×îаæÏÂÔØ University Volleyball is Experiencing the World Off the Beaten Path

ÃÛÌÒ´«Ã½×îаæÏÂÔØ University July 25- August 6. The students were excited to visit Vienna, Venice, and Rome, but one of the richest experiences was provided by going to Pontedera, Italy. Pontedera is a city between Pisa and Florence.  

The men's volleyball team was set to play the local team from the Centro Sportivo Bellaria. This was an evening where sport and culture came together.  

Giorgio Nazzi, president of the organization, greeted the ÃÛÌÒ´«Ã½×îаæÏÂÔØ University group at the Piaggio Museum, which features the Ape light commercial vehicles and the world-renowned Vespa scooters. "This is an important night for us. As an organization, we were largely closed for two years because of COVlD. On this night, with a breeze coming from the nearby mountains, our community packed the gym. Younger volleyball players came to support the older ones. It is important to have a team from the USA playing here,” exclaimed Nazzi.  

The team livestreamed the game on  

Dan Friend, head volleyball coach, explained, "The evening in Pontedera allowed us to be immersed in the local culture. There was the interaction of two countries, but there was the comradery of the players, the local sports organization, coaches, and community."  

"We enjoyed sharing a meal with the other players and learned some words in Italian,” said, Lauren Buxton, Springfield, Ill.  

"We are having a great trip! It is wonderful to connect with people in this place,” added Lauren Stenman, Maplewood, Minn. 

On a warm summer night in Tuscany, players from Italy and the United States played a five-game match. Although ÃÛÌÒ´«Ã½×îаæÏÂÔØ University won, the real winners were those who took part in this exchange.  

It makes our big world seem a little smaller. “We had a wonderful exchange of cultures, I loved the Vespas. They are universal in style, but they feel so unique to the culture,” said Olivia Opsed from Bloomington Minn. 

ÃÛÌÒ´«Ã½×îаæÏÂÔØ University is an innovative Catholic university offering market-relevant undergraduate and graduate programs to 6,500 students. Sponsored by the De La Salle Christian Brothers, ÃÛÌÒ´«Ã½×îаæÏÂÔØ University is nationally recognized for preparing intellectually engaged, ethically grounded, and globally-connected graduates who impact the world for the better. Visit for further information.