POUGHKEEPSIE, New York – Marist volleyball sophomore Stephanie Stone will begin playing in the 13th annual European Global Challenge on July 11 in Pula, Croatia.
 
The tournament, which consists of U17 and U23 divisions, gives American volleyball players experience competing against international teams with FIVB rules. Preliminary matches will be held July 11 and 12 to determine tournament rankings while championship and consolation rounds are slated for July 13 and 14.
 
In past years the tournament field has included a mix of club and country federation teams from Romania, Germany, Bosnia, Montenegro, and Puerto Rico, plus USA regional high performance, youth national, junior national, and collegiate national teams.
 
Hailing from Carlsbad, California, Stone will suit up for the U23 BIP West Coast team and compete alongside collegiate players from institutions such as Sonoma State University, University of the Pacific, University of North Dakota and Miami University (Ohio). BIP West Coast will open tournament play against the U18 Czech Republic squad at 7 a.m. EDT July 11. Live video streams of matches on both courts will be available throughout the European Global Challenge.      
 
Stone departed the United States for Vienna, Austria, on July 5 to begin her team's pre-tour. Each day she went sightseeing during the day and participated in evening practices and training. The pre-tour included two more days in Maribor, Slovenia. After the tournament Stone and the rest of the team will stop in Venice for a day of sightseeing before returning to the United States.
 
Follow @Maristvb on Twitter, Instagram, and Snapchat to see photos from Stephanie Stone's tour around Europe and information on her team's matches.