COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – Tennessee Tech senior volleyball player Madi Comperry (Tampa, Fla.) will travel across the Atlantic in July to play in the eighth annual European Global Challenge. Comperry will spend two weeks playing with the BIP Southeastern Team starting July 11.

The BIP Southeastern Team will join five other teams on tour and compete in two exhibition matches as well as the three-day European Global Challenge tournament in Pula, Croatia beginning July 20. The teams will have the opportunity to sightsee, practice and compete against some of the top players in Europe, including the Bavarian U19 team (former High Performance champions of Germany).

"This is the 13th year that USA Volleyball has recognized a trip of this nature organized and managed by Bring It Promotions (BIP). The experience gained by the athletes and coaches simply can not be obtained through domestic play,” said Tom Pingel, Managing Director of High Performance Indoor National Programs for USA Volleyball. “The USAV/BIP partnership has worked well in that USA recommends coaches and athletes for invitation and Bring It provides post-trip reports on everyone on the trip. I'm confident that the 2012 experience will equal or surpass those of past years."

Comperry teams up with nine other athletes from NCAA Division I, II, and III institutions. The 5-9 setter led the Golden Eagles with 652 assists over 102 sets last season and recorded a career-high 51 assists in a win over UT Chattanooga. 

“I’m excited to get to play foreign teams,” said Comperry. “This will give me the opportunity to get ready for preseason. My biggest concern was being frustrated with the level of play but these are handpicked, high-performance players, which will give me the chance to elevate my game. I’ll be able to build up my own confidence to put my foot down. I’m going to have to lead this team and communicate because I’m the oldest player going.”

Comperry is the second of head coach John Blair’s players -- both setters -- to travel on an international tour, following the lead of former setter Kappy Lang who toured Argentina in 2006 with with USA Select team.

“Madi will be thrown into a group of unknown players,” Blair said. “It is an opportunity to rewrite herself. It’s like a clean canvas as to how you want to be seen and portray yourself. She’ll be able to forge ahead and put into practice skills that she may not get to work on in our gym.”

Comperry looks to use this experience to lead her Golden Eagle team to an improved record in the upcoming season.

“I’m really going to have to take on a leadership role this year at Tech and this will really test my abilities and hopefully prepare me for this season," she noted. "I want that ring and if this is what it takes to win it, then I will do it.”

Blair reiterated, stating: “If Madi takes full advantage of this golden opportunity and trains hard leading into this trip, she could become a real asset of this team as a leader. She will need to be sharp from a technical standpoint to reach the expectations of this year.”

The other American teams traveling on the tour include the SCVA High Performance team, NCVA High Performance team, BIP Midwest team, BIP/USA Developmental team, and the USA Youth National team.

Representing their colleges and universities, as well as the United States on the Southeastern Team are ten athletes from NCAA Division I, II, and III institutions. For more information, visit www.bringitusa.com

Players:
Anna Hilton, Wingate University
Breanna Lewis, Washburn University
Cory McGowan, Wingate University
Erin Wellwood, University of Missouri-Kansas City
Iris Brewer Ursuline, Academy/Wingate University
Kate Morrell, University of Alabama-Birmingham
Kearby Benak, Eastern University
Madi Comperry, Tennessee Tech University
Sarah Scott, University of West Florida
Taylor Permenter, Armstrong-Atlantic State University

Coaches:
Margaret “CJ” Sherman, BIP/JJVA, Florida, USA
Daniel Magnusson Ljungby, Volleybollklubb, Sweden
Meghan Sherman Ljungby, Volleybollklubb, Sweden