Outside hitter Aiyana Whitney will be flying across the pond this summer as part of the first-ever women’s volleyball Big Ten Foreign Tour. Whitney was second on last year’s national championship-winning team with 372 kills, and will play alongside her Big Ten opponents in Slovenia, Croatia, and Italy from June 13 to 25.

The Big Ten Volleyball Foreign Tour Team will be coached by Northwestern’s Keylor Chan, and his assistants will be Indiana’s Paul Koncir and Rutgers’ Phuong Louong (sorry Penn State fans, Russ Rose is staying home).

“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,” Chan told the Big Ten. “These tours provide student-athletes and coaches with the ability to visit different places, meet new people and experience new cultures through the game that we all love.”

Per a release from the Big Ten, the team’s first stop will be in Maribor, Slovenia, where it will play against four national teams. The team will then travel around Croatia and will face off against the Istrian National Team twice, followed by a match with the Italian National Team in Italy.

Whitney and her teammates will also do community service and study the countries’ languages with local students.

About the Author

Doug Leeson

Doug is a sophomore and Onward State's Assistant Managing Editor. Dislikes: popcorn, Rutgers, and a low #TimberCount. Likes: "Frozen," Rec Hall, and you. Contact him via email at [email protected] or on Twitter @DougLeeson.