China Trip Blog: Day 1

Nebraska Volleyball in China - the third act in the trilogy - began early Tuesday. These China trips can be good investments: the first two editions - 2000 and 2006 - each ultimately led to National Championships.
 
Ten days of two-a-day practices prepared this group.  Back on day one, May 8, Tara Mueller said, "It's great to be back."

The Huskers had just finished three rigorous weeks of spring practice, took finals, and now, as most college volleyball players are vacationing, the Huskers have been all smiles training hard this past week for their 17-day odyssey packed with 13 matches against top Chinese pro teams.

Kayla Banwarth said today, "This team just loves to play volleyball together."

Flight time was 8 a.m. Tuesday morning, followed by a 14-hour flight from O'Hare to Shanghai. We left Chicago at 11 a.m. central time Tuesday morning and arrived in Shanghai at 1 a.m. Central time Wednesday morning.  Then a bullet train to a bus destined for the training facility of the Shanghai Pro Team. Ten minutes after dropping their bags off at the hotel here on the training grounds, the Huskers hit the gym for practice.

They're not crazy yet about the local food, though.  Most of the players were still finding their way with chopsticks and fish heads, noodles, and various meat dishes at the cafeteria after practice.

What lineup will ultimately emerge this fall?  We will learn more about the answer to that question over the next two weeks, and 13 matches, the first of which is tomorrow versus the Shanghai Pro team, a group the 2006 national champion Huskers barely beat four years ago.

I'm John Baylor, describing what I see.