Americans Overseas: The Latest USA Volleyball Transfer List

Ever wonder what happens to the really good college players when they finish college?  Many of them go overseas to play professional volleyball.  There are leagues in Italy, France, Switzerland, Germany, Austria, Turkey, Azerbaijan.  These leagues provide pretty high levels of competition that keep players sharp and give them not only a paycheck, but high level competition they will need to compete for a spot on the National Team.

Find your favorite players on the USA Volleyball Transfer List

Former USC Setter Kendall Bateman Brings Comedy and Intrigue to Her Puerto Rican Professional Volleyball Experiences

USC Product Kendall Bateman is Playing Professionally for Indias de Mayaguez in Puerto Rico and is Writing About her Season at http://kendallmb.wordpress.com/.  bImage Courtesy of ESPNW.com

The Life a a professional women's volleyball player overseas is often an odd and awkward one.  Former USC setter Kendall Bateman has begun to document her experiences in an off-beat and charming way.  Whether she is writing about local scenery, local culture or interpersonal relations, her wit and sarcasm accent the experiences that many young athletes dream of experiencing and offer a unique perspective that goes beyond the match report.  Check out her club at http://kendallmb.wordpress.com/

The Team Dinner from http://kendallmb.wordpress.com/

The outfits of choice (let me remind you, this is a casual dinner), for most of the Puerto Ricans on my team, ranged from high heels with skin tight jeans and belly tops to high heels with skin tight jeans and belly tops. For some added flavor, girls wore bedazzled four-inch heels and slicked their hair as straight as possible. I didn’t even know it was possible. Basically, I highly recommend Forever 21 to expand its global presence into PR, or Mayaguez for that matter. Hay dios mio.

Therefore, when the owner told me, I looked like a lady, I stood and basked in the compliment. Damn, I look good. Unfortunately, he followed the remark with, “You look like a old married woman with kids. There will be pictures taken on Wednesday, dress-up like a girl.” –Como se dice “burn” en Espanol?

Right then, I regretted failing to take advantage of the whiskey bar two hours earlier. And I don’t even drink. 

Read more about Bateman's experiences with the team, culture and wild life.  

Watch CEV Champions League Volleyball on Laola1.tv

Volleyball fans from the Puget Sound Region can watch European CEV Champions League Volleyball matches live and ondemand online this season at laola1.tv. 

Don't miss UW All-Time Digs Leader Tama Miyashiro and Lokamotiv Baku in the first leg of their match against Azerrail Baku who features fiery American outside Hitter Meghan Hodge.  Watch Here

Catch All of the CEV Champions League Matches Here

USA Women's Volleyball Update

Courtney Thompson
Image Courtesy of neveradulldayinpoland.com

COURTNEY THOMPSON WITH POLAND’S BUDOWLANI LODZ: Courtney Thompson (Kent, Wash.), a setter on the 2012 silver medalist U.S. Olympic Women’s Volleyball Team, is playing for Budowlani Lodz of the Orlen Liga in Poland for 2012-2013. Budowlani Lodz (4-7, 11 points) defeated then-first place BKS Aluprof Bielsko-Biala (9-2, 27 points) on Dec. 16 in a thrilling five-set match with scores 25-20, 24-26, 31-29, 20-25, 15-11. Thompson scored one kill on two errorless attempts to go with three aces and a block in the match. She set her squad to a 29 kill percent.

Read about the Rest of the USA Players Abroad at USAVolleyball.org

Tama Miyashiro Signs with Lokomotiv Baku in Azerbaijan Super League

Tama Miyashiro.  Image Courtesy of World of Volleyball on Facebook.

University of Washington all-time digs leader and 2012 Olympic Silver Medalist Tama Miyashiro has reportedly signed with Lokomotive Baku in the Azerbaijan Super League.  News from Lokomotiv is hard to come by, but it is known that Miyashiro has traveled to Baku, Azerbaijan and has attained a Visa that would allow her to play in the league. 

Conflicting reports indicated that Martina Malevic, the libero for the Croatian National Team was in Baku and expected to sign as well.  It is unknown if both players are signed.