Michigan Volleyball: 2025 European Tour
#MGoEurope: Italy and Greece Travel Blog
For the first time since 2018, the University of Michigan volleyball team is heading to Europe for an international trip. The Wolverines practiced 10 times in Ann Arbor prior to departing and will spend time in Rome, Florence, Venice and Milan, Italy, before concluding the trip in Napflio and Athens, Greece. U-M will play matches and see countless sights across the two countries. Follow the Wolverines on social media and with a daily travel log on MGoBlue.com.
Day 12: Our international trip has come to a close after a long day of travel, the Wolverines have arrived safely back in the United States. We can’t wait to be all back together for the first practice in August.
The trip was filled with so many amazing memories and experiences, it was a true once in a lifetime opportunity.
Thank you to everyone who made it possible, in particular, Daryl and Dana Kenningham who donated the money to make this trip possible.
Also, thanks to our amazing guides around the cities, Tati and Eleonora in Italy and Sana in Greece.
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Day 12: The team awoke this morning, ate breakfast, and hopped on our bus. We headed to the port of Athens and boarded our yacht for the day.
The journey started with some light refreshments, and the team enjoyed some good times sunbathing while chatting on the boat. After an hour or so, we docked at the island of Egina, known for pistachios, so we got to try some from vendors as we disembarked the boat. Our team had a little time to walk around the island, where some used it to eat, some to shop, and others just wandered.
After returning to the boat, we dropped anchor close to Moni Eginas Beach in the Aegean Sea and were allowed to swim. By the end of this swimming session, a lot of the team was doing backflips, front flips, and dives off the boat. When we all got back aboard, we had lunch before making our way to another swimming area. Here, the diving became more intense and riskier, but no one was hurt and everyone had a great time.
We visited one last island, Agistri. Some swam over to a nearby beach, others just stayed on the boat, and others wandered the island for a little bit. Once everyone was back on board, we had a long journey back with most of the team just lounging after a long day in the sun and water. We had focaccia sandwiches for dinner on the ship before disembarking.
The bus picked us up and we returned to our hotel to pack and get some sleep before our travel day tomorrow.
After a trip full of jam-packed days of sightseeing, touring and shopping, today felt like a perfectly timed moment for relaxing and taking our time in appreciating what was surrounding us. While I am not typically a big water person, I could not resist the temptation of the clear, bright blue waters we jumped, backflipped, and cannonballed into today. It was so much fun and I am forever grateful for the experiences and memories I will take from this trip.Trixie McMillian - Sophomore, #28 Libero
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Day 11: The University of Michigan volleyball team awoke this morning in Nafplio and, after a quick breakfast, embarked on a bus journey to Athens. We took a break along the way for another breakfast and more coffee at a coffee shop, and some even went to explore a nearby canal quickly.
After we arrived in Athens, our team split up and wandered the city for about an hour before meeting back up for lunch. With two salads, a bunch of appetizers, and three main courses all shared family style, the team was well-fed for the rest of the day.
Our main stop for the day was at the Acropolis, where we learned a lot about the history of Athens, the history of the buildings, and even some Olympic history. We trekked up the stairs and entered through the Monumental Gateway and looked upon the Acropolis, including the Parthenon, Erechtheion, and more ruins. Our tour guide taught us about how the Persians had burned the original, the creators of the new one, how Rome respected the city, and how a British lord took many artifacts from the area in the 1800s. On the way out, we saw the original Olympic Stadium, and many learned the origin of the term "marathon" and that the route is still run today.
We returned to the hotel and cooled down after a hot day while preparing for a match against Ilisiakos.
Our match started at 7:45 local time and was scheduled as a three-set match. The Wolverines took an early lead in the first set. Ilisiakos mounted a comeback, and after the set was tied at 20, the Greek team won 25-23. The second set started similarly, with the Wolverines taking a strong lead but held off Ilisiakos, winning the set 25-21. The third set was all Michigan, with strong serving runs from a few different Wolverines to help U-M win the set 25-12 and the match 2-1.
Allison Jacobs once again led Michigan with 13 kills and added three aces. Trixie McMillin recorded four aces while Hannah Brady registered two in her first match in a Michigan uniform. Jacyn Bamis was strong as a middle with four blocks and four kills and fellow middle Jenna Hanes had seven kills on a .500 hitting percentage. Maddi Cuchran recorded a team-leading 13 digs in just two sets.
Our day in Athens was packed and so much fun. The 10,000-plus steps up to the Parthenon and ancient Greek ruins were incredible. It’s hard to conceptualize marble buildings that have lasted over 2,500 years and many, many wars. After a snack, we headed to a Greek rec gym and got to play our final game of volleyball. Seeing all our new and old faces on the court makes for such a fun match. The four games we played during this trip made every single player better in one way or another. We continue to grow and get better as a full team, learning what pieces we need to refine and others we need to keep up. My favorite match was against the Italian national B team. We were challenged by some of the best servers we’ve ever seen and stayed together through the adversity. Of course, it helps that we’ve been bonding so much through the ups and downs of traveling abroad. Overall, I feel so grateful to do two of my favorite things in the world: travel and play volleyball. The cadence of exploring a new city, to getting to put the block M on at night, is an experience I will cherish for the rest of my life.Allison Jacobs - Graduate Student, #2 Outside Hitter
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Day 10: Part of the University of Michigan volleyball team woke up early today for an early morning castle hike. The bus departed at 7:30 a.m. for the hike to the Palamidi Fortress, which consisted of over 800 steps to get up to. Everyone who went on the hike made it up and survived to see some breathtaking views of Nafplio and took many pictures in the fortress and overlooking the city.
After the journey down, which was harder than the journey up for most, we returned to the hotel for a quick change and met up with the rest of the team to head back into the city center. There was a little shopping and wandering, but everyone was set on getting to the beach for some time in the water and sun. The team spent a lot of time sunbathing, but also some time in the water and cliff jumping with a few staff members.
Our time wound down at the beach, and everyone returned to chill at the hotel for a little bit. Some used that time to get more time in the water, this time at the hotel pool, while others took naps or just relaxed.
Everyone got on the bus this evening, and we returned to the city of Nafplio. Our bus dropped us off at the port, and we immediately hopped on a boat to Bourtzi Fortress. Completed in the early 1500s by the Venetians, we explored the whole island fortress. Some more stairs were involved, but nothing like the morning hike, and of course, more pictures were taken.
After returning to the mainland, we had time to walk around the city again before dinner, which was mostly spent shopping. Dinner was another traditional Greek meal with main courses of Pastitsio and Pilafi me Keema. Some cherries and honeydew were served as dessert. In our final hour in the city after dinner, the team did more shopping, had gelato, and wandered the streets.
We returned to the hotel and prepared for our final match and city tomorrow.
It was genuinely one of the best days of my life. I have always had a dream to go to Greece and it exceeded my expectations. I got to swim in the ocean and jump off a big rock with all my teammates and some of the staff. Not to mention the great food and adorable cats roaming the streets all the time.”Carly Greskovics - Junior, #10 Libero
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DAY 9: The University of Michigan volleyball team woke up early today and said goodbye to Italy. We headed to the airport, and after check-in and security, many grabbed another breakfast and a coffee.
Our flight was uneventful, and many caught up on some sleep. After landing in Athens, we waited for our bags and eventually met our new tour guide for these final days, Christiana.
We took a short bus ride to a lunch spot and were immediately immersed in Greek culture. The meal started with Greek Salad, French fries, Tzatziki sauce, pita bread, and the main course of Souvlaki. It was all delicious. Then we got back in our bus and made the drive to Nafplio, where many got even more sleep.
After arriving, we had some time to chill at the hotel, with some going into the pool before a late dinner. Dinner was in the city center right on the water and we timed it great to see some beautiful sunsets over the water. The meal consisted of similar appetizers but focused more on seafood, with the Octopus and the main course of a shrimp pasta. We wound down the night wandering around the town getting some gelato and a lay of the land before returning to our hotel for a night of rest.
We started the day off early with a flight to Athens, Greece. After coming off the flight, we jumped into some light activities. The lunch we had today was my favorite of the trip! It was a variety of meats with pita. We then took a bus ride to Nafplio and saw the most beautiful sunset. We took cute pictures and spent quality time at dinner and walking around the city center. Ten out of 10 day!Cymarah Gordon - Redshirt Freshman, #3 Opposite Hitter
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DAY 8: The University of Michigan volleyball team enjoyed a restful morning of sleep and a late wake-up call. After breakfast at the hotel, we boarded a bus and took a 45-minute drive to Lake Como.
The bus dropped us off at the football stadium before a short walk to see the Lake and a World War One Memorial. We got a lay of the land from our tour guides before splitting up. Some explored the town, including a Basilica, a statue of Alessandro Volta, a couple of medical castles, and more. Others did a little more shopping and eating, but most of the time was spent relaxing by the lake, tanning and swimming.
We regrouped in five hours to return to the bus and head to our hotel. After some time to rest, recharge, and change clothes, our team went to Corso Como in Milan for a final meal in Italy. Some great fried appetizers were served, and then a main course was ordered with most of the team and staff opting for one last pizza, but a few got some salads and calzones.
After dinner, we had an hour to walk around, explore the area, and get one last cup of Gelato before we went back to our hotel. The rest of our night will consist of packing and sleeping as we prepare to head to Greece tomorrow.
Feeling grateful for good company, the peaceful views of Lake Como, and a day to slow down. I spent today walking through town, wandering past markets and side streets, while others on the team relaxed by the water tanning and swimming. But we all came together for one last scoop of the best gelato ever! This whole trip has been such a gift -- full of new places, good food, and even better memories. The perfect way to wrap up our Italian adventure -- recharged and ready for Greece! Ciao!Amalia Simmons - Redshirt Junior, #11 Outside Hitter
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Day 7: The University of Michigan volleyball team woke up in Milan today and didn’t head straight for a bus, which was a nice change of pace. After some breakfast at the hotel, we welcomed two late arrivals to the trip, freshman Libero Hannah Brady and Athletic Consular Brandy Gresham.
Everyone boarded the shuttle to the city center, and we started our tour of Milan by seeing Sforzesco Castle and learning a little bit about the family. We made our way down the street and saw the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, which has many designer shops but was also used in the filming of the Wonka movie. Our last stop was the Duomo di Milano, the biggest one in Italy, and we learned it took over 600 years to build.
After that tour, we split off and were free to explore the city on our own. Some wander outside of the Duomo and other local sites, but most of the time was spent shopping and eating. We met back up and took the train back to our hotel to rest before our match against Lurano.
Both teams battled hard in the first set, but Lurano took the first set after a late run, 25-22. Michigan controlled the next two sets, winning 25-18 and 25-16 to take a 2-1 match lead. Lurano tried to rally in the second set, but U-M held them off. The Wolverines led early in the fourth set but Lurano fought back and evened the match at 2 sets apiece after winning 25-18. U-M dominated the fifth set, winning 15-6 with strong service runs by multiple Wolverines.
Allison Jacobs led the team in kills with 11 and tallied a double-double with 11 digs along with five blocks. Sydney Schnichels also added five blocks in the match as an opposite hitter. Ellie White recorded a double-double with 27 assists and 11 digs to match Jacobs, and White added three aces. U-M ran a 6-2 in the match, and Camille Edwards added 16 assists. Jenna Hanes had a strong day as a middle with nine kills on 13 swings for a .692 with three solo blocks. As a team, the Wolverines hit .301 and tallied 13 aces.
Post match, the teams shared pizza together and then we got back on our bus to return to Milan.
Today we spent the first part of the day in Milan! We took a tram into the main square and then were free to explore the beautiful city. We saw the Duomo and all the gorgeous streets that were lined with designer stores. I enjoyed shopping around with my teammates and exploring Milan. We ate at a really cute cafe and I finally found iced coffee! We then had a match later in the day, which was super fun and exciting. We also shared pizza with the other team after -- which was super cool because we got to meet them and practice our Italian!”Jenna Hanes - Sophomore, #12 Middle Blocker
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Day 6: The University of Michigan volleyball team awoke in Venice and had a good breakfast before a bus trip to Milan. On the trip, the team stopped for a quick break at a truck stop to pick up some Italian snacks before completing the journey to Milan.
After dropping our bags, we ate lunch at the Italian Volleyball Federation cafeteria, where we had chicken, pasta, vegetables and more. The team returned to the hotel to relax for about an hour and a half before the match. We walked to the facility and warmed up to face the Italian National ‘B’ Team.
The Italians were strong and surged away late in both the first and second sets, winning 25-16 and 25-15. U-M led for a little bit in the third set but dropped it 25-17. Italy took a big lead early in the fourth set and did not look back, winning 25-10. The teams decided to play a five-set friendly, and the Wolverines held their own in the fifth, but Italy took the final three points to win 16-14.
Serena Nyambio had a strong match with eight kills on a .467 hitting percentage, while Allison Jacobs had a team-leading 13 kills. Morgan Burke recorded a double-double with 27 assists and 12 digs and added three kills and two aces. Amalia Simmons also had a good day with eight kills and eight digs with a .350 hitting percentage.
The team returned to the hotel to shower and regroup before heading to a nice dinner, with some getting ahi tuna and others getting Chicken Parmigiana. We went to bed in Milan and prepared ourselves for a day in the city and another evening match.
Today, we spent the morning traveling to Milan. When we arrived, we got to eat lunch where the Italian National Team trains. A few of us walked to get coffee before our match and then started our pregame rituals. We played a very competitive match against the Italian National 'B' Team and were able to learn a lot from it. After the game, we all got freshened up and headed over to an amazing dinner to finish off the night. I am extremely grateful for this opportunity to spend quality time with my teammates and to continue getting to know each other on a deeper level.Morgan Burke - Junior, #7 Setter
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Day 5: The team embarked on another journey to a new Italian town today after an early breakfast. A three-hour bus ride brought the team to Venice Mestre and our hotel for the night, where we dropped our bags, changed, and got ready to head into Venice proper.
We entered Venice in style, enjoying water taxis to see the sights before being dropped off at Doge’s Palace, the San Marco Piazza and Basilica di San Marco. We received a quick history lesson from our tour guide, Elenanora, and learned about the city of Venice, how it used to be its own republic, and how the Venetians liked to show off their wealth with gold.
We then split for the rest of the day with the team doing a lot of shopping, sightseeing and eating. Our student-athletes got lost among the many canals and bridges; some even took a gondola ride. The volleyball staff headed to Murano, an island known for glass blowing.
The team regrouped for a special team dinner and bonded. After some gelato, everyone boarded a train back to Venice Mestre to head to bed and prepare for our fourth Italian city and a match tomorrow.
Today, we spent the day in Venice wandering through the beautiful canals. We took a water taxi from the mainland to the island -- it was a bumpy ride but a surreal way to enter the city. After arriving in San Marco Square, the group split up for lunch and shopping. We got lost in the winding streets, filled with leather, glass and jewelry shops. The team reunited for a girl's dinner of seafood and pizza. The food was so fresh and flavorful, the perfect way to end the evening. It has been an unforgettable experience thus far, exploring new cities and strengthening bonds with my teammates.Lydia Johnson - Junior, #5 Opposite Hitter
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Day 4: The day started with an early wakeup call and breakfast. We packed up our bus and made our way to a new city, Florence. On the bus ride, some slept while others chatted and saw breathtaking views of the Italian countryside.
Once in Florence, we went to the Piazza di Santa Croce and the Basilica di Santa Croce di Firenze. Our group quickly walked to the city's highlight, the Cathedral di Santa Maria del Fiore, before splitting for lunch on our own.
After meeting back up, we split into two groups for a guided tour of the heart of the city. Each group learned different parts, as one group spent more time learning about the Medici family, the statue of David, the only surviving bridge, and saw where the Mona Lisa was started. The other group saw some similar sites but spent time hearing about Dante Alighieri and the passageway the Medicis built to traverse the city up above.
Our time in Florence ended with some small-group time, with some getting more food including Gelato, while others did more sightseeing, took more pictures and shopped around the city.
We returned to the hotel and enjoyed a team dinner together before heading to bed and preparing for a new city in the morning.
After an early morning bus ride through the beautiful countryside, we arrived in Florence for the third day of our trip. We headed straight to the town hall before departing for our walking tours. The large statues immediately caught my eye, and I felt like I was looking up through the beautiful alleyways this whole day. We made it to the Arno River and looped around through an array of shops and restaurants, all while catching some photos and snacks. We were then free to roam around for lunch and more sightseeing. This whole trip has been an incredible blessing, and it’s safe to say we are enjoying every bit of it!Ella Demetrician - Sophomore, #9 Outside Hitter
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Day 3: After a restful night, the University of Michigan volleyball team awoke for a team breakfast. Lots of croissants, fruit and yogurt cake were eaten and of course lots of coffee, including Italian cappuccinos. We then got ready to head out and boarded our bus to a new country, Vatican City.
We arrived at St. Peter's Square, stopped for a quick team picture outside, and then made our way to the Basilica. Groups stopped and took pictures at Berini's fountain outside before entering the breathtaking St. Peter's Basilica and exploring it in small groups. Some marveled at the statues, others attended a small mass while some stared at the architecture, and of course, more pictures were taken.
Our team headed to lunch in the area, enjoying some local cuisine, and then regrouped and went inside the Vatican Museum. We once again broke into small groups and made our way quickly through the museum, learning about the history of popes, Rome and Italy and saw many historic statues, paintings, and tapestries. A large portion of the group made its way to the Sistine Chapel, painted by Michelangelo.
After a morning and early afternoon of exploring, we returned to the hotel to prep for the match against Pomezia B1.
In a small domed gym, we won a four-set match. The team adjusted nicely to a warmup and international rules. U-M won the first set 25-19, leading throughout and letting Pomezia get back in it late, but was able to hold them off. Both teams battled hard in the second set, and Pomezia came out on top, winning 26-24. In the third, Pomezia held a 9-3 lead early, but the Wolverines were able to come back and win the set 25-21. Michigan controlled the final set, winning 25-14 with the help of freshman Leni Stanton-Parker.
Stanton-Parker tallied a kill and an ace with seven strong serves. Allison Jacobs led U-M with 16 kills on a .306 hitting percentage. Sydney Schnichels made an impact, tallying eight kills. Lydia Johnson and Serena Nyambio led the way with five blocks each, while Trixie McMillin tallied 12 digs.
Today we spent the day in Vatican City and explored St. Peter's Basilica and the Vatican Museum. I felt extremely grateful and blessed walking through the Basilica as it was full of history and faith. In the Vatican Museum, we had the chance to walk through the Sistine Chapel which was breathtaking. Seeing Michelangelo's art piece up close was super cool. We finished our day with a match against Pomezia B1. It was a great first match integrating the newcomers and seeing them play in a Michigan jersey for the first time. We ended up winning in four sets. We also got the opportunity to eat with Pomezia B1 after our match, talking to them and learning about their culture Overall, it was a day full of seeing and learning about history, culture and playing volleyball. Go Blue!Ellie White - Sophomore, #6 Setter
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DAYS 1-2: The University of Michigan volleyball team embarked on its foreign trip on Sunday. After meeting up and loading up the bus, the team made their way to the Detroit Metro Airport. We made our way through security and stocked up on last-minute snacks and dinner before boarding our 6:30 p.m. flight to Rome. Overall, the flight was smooth. We watched some movies and read some, but mostly slept or tried to sleep as we arrived in Rome at 8:30 a.m. local time.
We deplaned quickly, made our way through customs, and grabbed our bags. Then we left the terminal and met Tati, a former collegiate volleyball player and one of our tour guides for the Italian section of the trip. A short bus ride later, we arrived at our hotel, dropped off our bags, changed clothes, and reboarded the bus to see the sights of Rome.
Our first stop was the Spanish Steps, which have been seen in many movies, but was originally home to the Spanish Consulate. We then made our way to the Trevi Fountain, which was in great condition after recent renovations. A break was next, and we split off into groups to see more local sites, take some pictures, and get our first taste of Italian cuisine.
Today was also Italian Republic Day (similar to our Independence Day), commemorating the 1946 Italian institutional referendum allowing the Italian people to decide on a new form of government after World War 2. We saw parts of the celebration, including parachute jumpers and planes painting the Italian flag in the sky.
We met back up at the Trevi fountain before walking down to the Colosseum. We learned a little about its history before another chance to explore the area in smaller groups, with some opting for photos and others to look at the ruins of the Colosseum and the area surrounding. Eventually, we all returned to the Fountain one last time before returning to the hotel and unpacking before closing out the night with dinner.
I am feeling incredibly grateful for the opportunity to explore Rome today alongside my teammates and coaches. Experiencing the culture firsthand is such a blessing, and it is made even more special by sharing it with such an amazing group of people. One of my favorite moments was seeing the Colosseum up close. Even from the outside, it was incredible to take in its massive scale and learn about its rich history. I was especially fascinated to hear how parts of the Colosseum were repurposed over time to build other structures throughout Rome.Maddi Cuchran - Graduate Student, #19 Libero
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