Union University volleyball players Jordan Vick and Emily Grace Calhoon traveled to Rio de Janerio, Brazil, to compete on the USA DII Brazil Tour Volleyball Team from May 14 to May 24.
The USA DII Volleyball Teams invited NCAA Division II women's players from across the country. This team included 10 players recognized as all-Americans, all-region and all-conference. The players represented six different colleges and universities from eight different states.
"This is an outstanding group of young women," said Ron Smith of USA Sports Tours & Events. "Many of the players on this year's USA D-2 / Brazil Tour team had great individual seasons and led their teams into postseason play. This tour is designed to expose players to a great volleyball experience while providing a once in a lifetime opportunity for educational, cultural, and social growth."
Vick, a senior setter, reached 2,000 career assists and 500 career digs in the 2021 season and set the program record for career assists in the DII era with 2,354 assists. She also led Union in assists in 2021 with 1,030 and was named Second Team All-GSC.
Calhoon, a senior outside hitter and middle blocker, reached 500 career kills in 2021 and set the program career blocks record in the DII era with 259 blocks. She was also named First Team All-GSC and led Union in blocks with 100.
Over the course of the trip, the team played three matches against professional and club teams, winning two and losing one. In addition to competing, the players got to experience educational, cultural, and social aspects of Brazilian life through city, school, and sports club visits. They stayed on Copacabana Beach and got to see the Christ the Redeemer Statue, Sugar Loaf Mountain, and the Lapa Steps.
The players also got to work with a youth clinic at the Marina Barra Clube/Ripper Volei. This was Calhoon's favorite part of the trip.
"We were just put out there and we got to get in different groups of girls and run the clinic," Calhoon said. "Then we ended up playing their team later that night. So it was pretty fun to be able to coach the little girls, and then play the older girls of that same club. Then we got to go out to eat with them and hang out with them outside of volleyball. It was so much fun, so many new little relationships. I miss them already."
Vick and Calhoon were glad that they got to share the experience with each other.
"We were able to come in and say that we were both from Union and just go off of each other when we were talking to people," Vick said. "It definitely made it a lot easier and a little less
stressful because I knew if I was stressed out at a game, I could just go up to her and be like 'Hey girl!' Just the whole experience, having her around, just made it so much more memorable."
Overall, the trip to Brazil was a once-in-a-lifetime experience that both players were glad they got to have.
"I am so thankful and just so grateful to have had the opportunity to be able to go and compete and to create these new experiences and memories with volleyball," Calhoon said. "Volleyball has opened up so many doors for me, but this definitely has to be my all-time favorite volleyball memory that I will seriously never forget."
USA DII Volleyball Team Roster
Emily Grace Calhoon - Union University
Allie Dishman - Montevallo University
Adriana Lopez - Rollins College
Gracie McGee - University of Alabama Huntsville
Lydia Paulette - Mississippi College
Kendall Platt - Mississippi College
Maddie Rettler - Upper Iowa University
Sav Roys - Montevallo University
Zoe Semelroth - Upper Iowa University
Jordan Vick - Union University
USA DII Volleyball Coach Mika Robinson (Rollins College - Head Volleyball Coach)
