Letters From Europe: Marin Grote
June 15, 2022 | Volleyball
Hiya Husky fans!
ย
Wow, what a trip so far. We have completed enough sightseeing and adventures to fill one trip to Europe and we are only on day four!!
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So far, we have played three matches across Maribor. We have ridden bikes through the heart of Maribor and had time to explore the local scenery on our own. Each day we have the chance to try new restaurants around Slovenia and learn about the cuisine and how the food is prepared. We have gone wine tasting and even toured the inner workings of Slovenia's most renowned winery, Doppler. And, we have ridden the gondolas and ski lifts up Pohorje Mountain and raced down the alpine slide.
ย
My favorite things so far have to be our first match against the Slovenian National Team and the alpine slide! After our long journey to get to Slovenia (4 airports, 4 countries, 2 bus rides, and 1 experience I'll never forget) we had a chance to put our plane legs to the test and play some competitive volleyball. The Slovenian national team was a well oiled machine and provided some stiff competition. Once we ended the match at four sets - 2-2 - we chatted with the girls native to Slovenia and even exchanged jerseys! We realized how kind and friendly they were off the court after seeming like such a tough bunch of women on the court! That night, we ate a lovely dinner at a peaceful restaurant on a river with swans. I learned that the Slovenian cuisine is all about the meats, every meal so far we has had a least three types of meat- and I am on board with that! After dinner, we all crashed hard in our beds at the hotel for a long nights sleep, which we all needed.
ย
My other favorite adventure so far is the Alpine Slide down Pohorje Mountain. We took the ski lift up the mountain and were able to see the frictionless coaster we were about to fly down. I was the first from the team to go and had challenged myself NOT to use the brake, and boy was that fun! Down the mountain I raced around tight turns and several unseen drops until at the end where a stop sign screams stop which is where I threw the brake on and came screeching to a halt. It was so fast down that hill, and all I wanted to do was ride it again. After I watched my teammates race or joy ride down the hill, we all took the ski lift back up the mountain for a lunch at top the hill with a view of Maribor like no other. We sat, ate lots of meat and salad, joked, and soaked up the sun before we traversed the Alpine Slide once again.
ย
The trip so far has been a whirlwind full of volleyball, sightseeing, and new adventures every minute of the day! I still pinch myself to see if I am actually here because this trip is a dream come true.
ย
That's all for now Husky Fans! We are headed to Venice tomorrow. Until next time!
ย
-Marin A. Grote
Match No. 3 Recap
Washington's final match in and against Slovenia took them nearly to the Italian border, as the Dawgs will push on into Italy on Thursday. The Huskies played the U19 National Team for a second day in a row, in a different location, but with the same result, as the Huskies won all four sets, 25-17, 25-20, 25-22, 25-18.
The Huskies rolled in the first set with Claire Hoffman, Shannon Crenshaw, and Madi Endsleyย at the pins, Sophie Summers and Marin Grote in the middle, Ella May Powell setting, and Lauren Bays at libero. Olivia Mikkelsen subbed in as a defender when Endsley rotated back.
Set two saw Molly Wilson run the offense and Audra Wilmesย check in at OH2, with Crenshaw moving to opposite. Sianna Houghton and Maeve Griffin each checked in as well. The Dawgs closed that set out on a block from Crenshaw and Grote.
Washington utilized a 6-2 in the third set, with Wilson and Mikkelsen switching off. Wilmes and Hoffman played on the left and Endsley and Crenshaw were on the opposite. Houghton also moved into the libero spot. The Huskies trailed late for the first time in the last two days at 14-19, but then scored six in a row. Grote had a solo block for 23-21, and another block assist to win it, 25-22.
In the final set, Wilson set with Hoffman and Endsley on the left and Crenshaw on the right, and Houghton still at libero. The Dawgs completed the four set sweep, and then had dinner with the Slovenian squad, eatingย pizza that was delivered to the arena with their new friends.
ย
Wow, what a trip so far. We have completed enough sightseeing and adventures to fill one trip to Europe and we are only on day four!!
ย
So far, we have played three matches across Maribor. We have ridden bikes through the heart of Maribor and had time to explore the local scenery on our own. Each day we have the chance to try new restaurants around Slovenia and learn about the cuisine and how the food is prepared. We have gone wine tasting and even toured the inner workings of Slovenia's most renowned winery, Doppler. And, we have ridden the gondolas and ski lifts up Pohorje Mountain and raced down the alpine slide.
ย
My favorite things so far have to be our first match against the Slovenian National Team and the alpine slide! After our long journey to get to Slovenia (4 airports, 4 countries, 2 bus rides, and 1 experience I'll never forget) we had a chance to put our plane legs to the test and play some competitive volleyball. The Slovenian national team was a well oiled machine and provided some stiff competition. Once we ended the match at four sets - 2-2 - we chatted with the girls native to Slovenia and even exchanged jerseys! We realized how kind and friendly they were off the court after seeming like such a tough bunch of women on the court! That night, we ate a lovely dinner at a peaceful restaurant on a river with swans. I learned that the Slovenian cuisine is all about the meats, every meal so far we has had a least three types of meat- and I am on board with that! After dinner, we all crashed hard in our beds at the hotel for a long nights sleep, which we all needed.
ย
My other favorite adventure so far is the Alpine Slide down Pohorje Mountain. We took the ski lift up the mountain and were able to see the frictionless coaster we were about to fly down. I was the first from the team to go and had challenged myself NOT to use the brake, and boy was that fun! Down the mountain I raced around tight turns and several unseen drops until at the end where a stop sign screams stop which is where I threw the brake on and came screeching to a halt. It was so fast down that hill, and all I wanted to do was ride it again. After I watched my teammates race or joy ride down the hill, we all took the ski lift back up the mountain for a lunch at top the hill with a view of Maribor like no other. We sat, ate lots of meat and salad, joked, and soaked up the sun before we traversed the Alpine Slide once again.
ย
The trip so far has been a whirlwind full of volleyball, sightseeing, and new adventures every minute of the day! I still pinch myself to see if I am actually here because this trip is a dream come true.
ย
That's all for now Husky Fans! We are headed to Venice tomorrow. Until next time!
ย
-Marin A. Grote
Match No. 3 Recap
Washington's final match in and against Slovenia took them nearly to the Italian border, as the Dawgs will push on into Italy on Thursday. The Huskies played the U19 National Team for a second day in a row, in a different location, but with the same result, as the Huskies won all four sets, 25-17, 25-20, 25-22, 25-18.
Enjoyed competing against the Slovenian U19 Team ??#PointHuskies x #DawgsAbroad pic.twitter.com/2M71Ey1NXk
— Washington Volleyball (@UWVolleyball) June 15, 2022
The Huskies rolled in the first set with Claire Hoffman, Shannon Crenshaw, and Madi Endsleyย at the pins, Sophie Summers and Marin Grote in the middle, Ella May Powell setting, and Lauren Bays at libero. Olivia Mikkelsen subbed in as a defender when Endsley rotated back.
Set two saw Molly Wilson run the offense and Audra Wilmesย check in at OH2, with Crenshaw moving to opposite. Sianna Houghton and Maeve Griffin each checked in as well. The Dawgs closed that set out on a block from Crenshaw and Grote.
Washington utilized a 6-2 in the third set, with Wilson and Mikkelsen switching off. Wilmes and Hoffman played on the left and Endsley and Crenshaw were on the opposite. Houghton also moved into the libero spot. The Huskies trailed late for the first time in the last two days at 14-19, but then scored six in a row. Grote had a solo block for 23-21, and another block assist to win it, 25-22.
In the final set, Wilson set with Hoffman and Endsley on the left and Crenshaw on the right, and Houghton still at libero. The Dawgs completed the four set sweep, and then had dinner with the Slovenian squad, eatingย pizza that was delivered to the arena with their new friends.
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/ VolleyballSeniors Markley and Hani team up to extend the match with the rejection!! ๐ค
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