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NCAA News Archive - 2007
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Venture to Vietnam
St. John’s (New York) team shines on court and in community
St. John’s (New York) team shines on court and in community
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By Kathryn Krtnick
The NCAA News
The NCAA News
As destinations go, Vietnam may top the list of most unusual stops for a college volleyball team. Not surprisingly, there was nothing run of the mill about the recent experiences of the St. John’s University (New York) women’s volleyball team when the squad became the first American collegiate team to set foot in the country.
Although the St. John’s team was in Vietnam to participate in an elite international tournament, the Red Storm student-athletes did more than show off their athletics prowess on the court. Team members also positively represented their fellow NCAA student-athletes through a commitment to community service and a motivation to embrace cultures other than their own.
The Red Storm endured an intense 24-hour plane ride marked by turbulence and cramped quarters to participate in the Vietnam Television International Women’s Volleyball Cup in May. St. John’s and Vietnam have operated a joint study-abroad program since 2002, and the relationship opened the door for the team to make a landmark appearance.
The nine-day tournament featured national teams from Thailand, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Kazakhstan, Japan, Myanmar, China and Vietnam in competition akin to a top collegiate tournament in the United States.
After adjusting to international volleyball rules and roaring crowds of more than 2,500, St. John’s emerged from its pool with a 5-1 record, which yielded a trip to the championship match against host Vietnam. With more than 6,000 cheering fans in the arena, St. John’s was challenged with the largest and most boisterous crowd it had ever faced.
“The gym was packed; people were screaming and playing drums,” said right-side hitter Dana DeMayo. “Playing under this much pressure and in front of so many people felt as if we were playing in the NCAA finals.”
Though the Vietnam team edged St. John’s, 3-1, for the gold medal, the Red Storm proudly sported their silver medals while signing autographs and taking pictures with spirited fans.
But volleyball was only a fraction of the Vietnamese experience for the team. The second half of the Red Storm’s journey was reserved for community service. The silver medalists first visited Soc Son’s School for Disabled Children, which educates indigent children with learning disabilities and enrolls about 120 students. However, because of costs (55 cents per day), only 50 students regularly attend.
The students graciously welcomed the team and started the day with a traditional Vietnamese dance.
“Six deaf and mute students performed for us,” said outside hitter Elizabeth Austin. “It was amazing that the kids were completely on rhythm.”
The team spent the rest of the morning touring the school and playing with the children. Before leaving, the players distributed T-shirts and snacks the kids. “Even though we spoke a different language, we could see the joy and thankfulness on their faces,” said Austin.
Later that night, the St. John’s team hosted a gala dinner to formally thank the many Vietnamese individuals who had been fostering the St. John’s/Vietnam relationship during the past six years. Guests included Michael Marine, U.S. ambassador to Vietnam, who spoke to the Red Storm players, acknowledging them as “good-will ambassadors.”
While traditional Vietnamese music and a fashion show entertained the guests, the volleyball team auctioned off volleyballs and T-shirts, which raised $6,000 for the Soc Son School for Disabled Children.
In addition to competing on the volleyball court and engaging in community-service endeavors, the team took time to explore several sites in the host country, including the Notre Dame Cathedral and the Vietnam War Remnants Museum in Ho Chi Minh City, and the Temple of Literature and the Hoa Lo Prison in Hanoi.
Red Storm head coach Joanne Persico-Smith called the experience in Vietnam life-changing. “When you give so much of yourself, you end up getting so much more back from it,” she said.
Persico-Smith also explained how the trip unified her team. “To achieve this level of chemistry together and to really believe in what we were doing for others was a true bonding experience,” she said. “We had to lean on each other, rely on one another and work together to overcome cultural differences.”
Along with Persico-Smith and assistant coaches Mario Treibit and Li Chen, the Red Storm squad included: Kathleen Yee, Wioleta Leszczynska, Hui Ping Huang, Patti Hardimon, Latoya Blunt, Jenna Schweitzer, Elizabeth Austin, Casie Brooks, Dana DeMayo, Ruisa Scheffel, Valeria Kovaleva, and Alanna Rutan.
Although the St. John’s team was in Vietnam to participate in an elite international tournament, the Red Storm student-athletes did more than show off their athletics prowess on the court. Team members also positively represented their fellow NCAA student-athletes through a commitment to community service and a motivation to embrace cultures other than their own.
The Red Storm endured an intense 24-hour plane ride marked by turbulence and cramped quarters to participate in the Vietnam Television International Women’s Volleyball Cup in May. St. John’s and Vietnam have operated a joint study-abroad program since 2002, and the relationship opened the door for the team to make a landmark appearance.
The nine-day tournament featured national teams from Thailand, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Kazakhstan, Japan, Myanmar, China and Vietnam in competition akin to a top collegiate tournament in the United States.
After adjusting to international volleyball rules and roaring crowds of more than 2,500, St. John’s emerged from its pool with a 5-1 record, which yielded a trip to the championship match against host Vietnam. With more than 6,000 cheering fans in the arena, St. John’s was challenged with the largest and most boisterous crowd it had ever faced.
“The gym was packed; people were screaming and playing drums,” said right-side hitter Dana DeMayo. “Playing under this much pressure and in front of so many people felt as if we were playing in the NCAA finals.”
Though the Vietnam team edged St. John’s, 3-1, for the gold medal, the Red Storm proudly sported their silver medals while signing autographs and taking pictures with spirited fans.
But volleyball was only a fraction of the Vietnamese experience for the team. The second half of the Red Storm’s journey was reserved for community service. The silver medalists first visited Soc Son’s School for Disabled Children, which educates indigent children with learning disabilities and enrolls about 120 students. However, because of costs (55 cents per day), only 50 students regularly attend.
The students graciously welcomed the team and started the day with a traditional Vietnamese dance.
“Six deaf and mute students performed for us,” said outside hitter Elizabeth Austin. “It was amazing that the kids were completely on rhythm.”
The team spent the rest of the morning touring the school and playing with the children. Before leaving, the players distributed T-shirts and snacks the kids. “Even though we spoke a different language, we could see the joy and thankfulness on their faces,” said Austin.
Later that night, the St. John’s team hosted a gala dinner to formally thank the many Vietnamese individuals who had been fostering the St. John’s/Vietnam relationship during the past six years. Guests included Michael Marine, U.S. ambassador to Vietnam, who spoke to the Red Storm players, acknowledging them as “good-will ambassadors.”
While traditional Vietnamese music and a fashion show entertained the guests, the volleyball team auctioned off volleyballs and T-shirts, which raised $6,000 for the Soc Son School for Disabled Children.
In addition to competing on the volleyball court and engaging in community-service endeavors, the team took time to explore several sites in the host country, including the Notre Dame Cathedral and the Vietnam War Remnants Museum in Ho Chi Minh City, and the Temple of Literature and the Hoa Lo Prison in Hanoi.
Red Storm head coach Joanne Persico-Smith called the experience in Vietnam life-changing. “When you give so much of yourself, you end up getting so much more back from it,” she said.
Persico-Smith also explained how the trip unified her team. “To achieve this level of chemistry together and to really believe in what we were doing for others was a true bonding experience,” she said. “We had to lean on each other, rely on one another and work together to overcome cultural differences.”
Along with Persico-Smith and assistant coaches Mario Treibit and Li Chen, the Red Storm squad included: Kathleen Yee, Wioleta Leszczynska, Hui Ping Huang, Patti Hardimon, Latoya Blunt, Jenna Schweitzer, Elizabeth Austin, Casie Brooks, Dana DeMayo, Ruisa Scheffel, Valeria Kovaleva, and Alanna Rutan.
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