SWARTHMORE, Pa. - The Swarthmore volleyball team embarks on a historic European adventure when it departs Wednesday for an 11-day cultural excursion of Italy.
 
The Garnet are making their first trip to Europe in program history, starting in Rome before traveling to Grosseto then to Florence and Venice and finishing the trip in Milan. The team will take on top-notch European competition and embrace sightseeing and other culturally enriching tourist activities during the trip.
 

"This is our second international trip as a program (previously we went to China in August 2017)," said head coach Harleigh Chwastyk. "We are doing something pretty special and unique here at Swarthmore and providing our student-athletes an international volleyball experience.  I'm very excited to get our team out to Europe to see how we can compete at the international level."
 
The trip will be an invaluable learning experience of the players on the travel squad with plenty of opportunities to focus on team-building activities throughout the journey.

 
The team arrives in Rome where it will stay three nights and play the first of three matches. The Garnet will then stopover in Grosseto for a one-night, one-match stay. Then on to Florence for sightseeing and on to Galzignano for our third match of the trip.  We will wrap up with sightseeing adventures throughout Venice and Verona.

"Being able to experience an international trip not only expands our perspective of our sport, but also gives us the chance to meet and interact with athletes of another culture," said Chloe Mayhue. "I am of course excited for the Italian cuisine, but most of all I am looking forward to experiencing this team trip with our coaches, athletic department staff, and various family members."

The Garnet will visit popular tourist destinations, such as Sistine Chapel and Vatican and the Coliseum and Forum.
 
The volleyball team appreciates all of its support systems in giving them the opportunity to go on this historic journey.
 
"I am extremely grateful for the support we have for our program," said Chwastyk.  "A huge thank you to our Athletics Director, Brad Koch and Provost Sarah Willie-LeBreton for supporting us and creating the space to make this trip a reality. I'm incredibly thankful to our SWATVB community. From our student-athletes to parents, alumnae and fans, we have seen incredible financial support from our community to make the dream a reality. I am extremely grateful for the generosity of our community. I'm excited for our incredible group of young women to embark this trip that they will remember for the rest of their lives."

Fans can stay up to date throughout the team's journey by following them on - Instagram and Facebook.