Northwestern University Athletics
Maddie Slater to Compete on Big Ten Foreign Tour
5/7/2015 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
EVANSTON, Ill. -- Northwestern middle blocker Maddie Slater is one of 14 Big Ten players selected to play on a foreign tour this summer to Slovenia, Croatia and Italy this summer for competition on the court and the opportunity to experience new cultures.
One student-athlete from each of the 14 Big Ten programs will participate. The squad will be led by Northwestern head coach Keylor Chan.
"The Big Ten Volleyball Foreign Tour Team will have a great opportunity this summer to come together and compete against some of the best players in the world," said Chan last month. "These tours provide student-athletes and coaches with the chance to visit different places, meet new people and experience new cultures through the game that we all love. I'm really looking forward to representing Northwestern University and the Big Ten Conference overseas in June.
The first stop for the Big Ten Foreign Tour Team is Maribor, Slovenia, where matches with four national teams will take place. That is the same city where the Wildcats launched their own foreign tour in June 2013.
"I'm excited that Maddie will be able to participate in this experience. She was not yet a member of the team when we last went in 2013, so now it's her opportunity to explore more of the world through volleyball," said Chan.
The squad will then travel to several cities in Croatia to play in two contests versus the Istrian Select team. The final leg of the tour will be in Italy, where the team will play the Italian National Team. Chicago's Big Ten Team also wrapped up its competition slate in Florence, Italy against the Italian National Team.
In addition to competition on the court, the 14 student-athletes will have the opportunity to partake in community service initiatives, study foreign languages with local students and visit some of Europe's most historic cities, including Ljubljana in Slovenia, Istra, Pula, Rovinj and Porec in Croatia, and Padova and Venice in Italy.
The complete itinerary for Big Ten Foreign Tour Team will be announced at a later date. The entire roster is below:
2015 Big Ten Volleyball Foreign Tour Team
Jocelynn Birks, Illinois, Outside Hitter, Sr.
Megan Tallman, Indiana, Setter, Jr.
Jess Janota, Iowa, Middle Blocker, So.
Hailey Murray, Maryland, Middle Blocker, So.
Adeja Lambert, Michigan, Outside Hitter, So.
Halle Peterson, Michigan State, Setter, Sr.
Alyssa Goehner, Minnesota, Outside Hitter, So.
Justine Wong-Orantes, Nebraska, Libero, Sr.
Maddie Slater, Northwestern, Middle Blocker, Jr.
Taylor Sandbothe, Ohio State, Middle Blocker, Jr.
Aiyana Whitney, Penn State, Outside Hitter, Sr.
Annie Drews, Purdue, Outside Hitter, Sr.
Meme Fletcher, Rutgers, Outside Hitter, So.
Kelli Bates, Wisconsin, Outside Hitter, So.
Head Coach: Keylor Chan, Northwestern
Assistant Coaches: Paul Koncir, Indiana; Phuong Louong, Rutgers
Athletic Trainer: Lianna Hadden, Michigan State
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