Wong-Orantes Heads to Europe for B1G Foreign Tour

Nebraska junior libero Justine Wong-Orantes departs for Europe on Saturday, June 13 for the first ever Big Ten Foreign Tour. 

The team will travel to Croatia, Slovenia and Italy from June 13-25 and give students from all 14 schools the opportunity to travel overseas to take part in competition on the court, participate in community service initiatives and experience new cultures in some of the world's greatest cities.

Over the course of nearly two weeks, the Big Ten Foreign Tour Team will compete in seven matches and host a volleyball clinic, in addition to community outreach activities. Follow @B1GVolleyball using the hash tag #B1GEuroVB on Twitter for live updates on the tour. Access bigten.org for further details, including daily updates and photos.

"I am thrilled to be getting this opportunity to represent Nebraska and the Big Ten and get to travel the world doing so," Wong-Orantes said. "I think this will be a great experience because I will get to be playing against high-level teams while bonding with players from other teams in the Big Ten. I am so fortunate to be getting this opportunity and cannot wait to be a part of it."

The team departs on June 13 and will land in Zagreb, Croatia, before transferring to Maribor, Slovenia, on June 14. On June 15 and 16, the team will face the Slovenia National Team in a pair of matches, before taking on the Hungarian National Team on June 17. On June 18, the team will visit a local school in Slovenia for community outreach activities with the students, before a final evening match against the Hungarian National Team in Slovenia. 

The tour leaves for Pula, Croatia, on June 19. The Big Ten team will compete in an evening match against the Croatian Club Champions Zok Porec on June 20 and will put on an afternoon volleyball clinic on June 21. 

The Big Ten Foreign Tour will depart Croatia and pass through Venice on June 22. The team will then play a pair of matches against the Italian National team on June 23 and 24 in Padova, Italy. The tour concludes as the team will depart from Venice to return to the United States on June 25.

2015 Big Ten Volleyball Foreign Tour Team
Jocelynn Birks, Illinois, Outside Hitter, Sr.
Megan Tallman, Indiana, Setter, Jr.
Jess Janota, Iowa, Middle Blocker, So.
Hailey Murray, Maryland, Middle Blocker, So.
Adeja Lambert, Michigan, Outside Hitter, So.
Halle Peterson, Michigan State, Setter, Sr.
Alyssa Goehner, Minnesota, Outside Hitter, So.
Justine Wong-Orantes, Nebraska, Libero, Jr.
Maddie Slater, Northwestern, Middle Blocker, Jr.
Taylor Sandbothe, Ohio State, Middle Blocker, Jr.
Aiyana Whitney, Penn State, Outside Hitter, Sr.
Annie Drews, Purdue, Outside Hitter, Sr.
Meme Fletcher, Rutgers, Outside Hitter, So.
Kelli Bates, Wisconsin, Outside Hitter, So.

Head Coach: Keylor Chan, Northwestern
Assistant Coaches: Paul Koncir, Indiana; Phuong Louong, Rutgers 
Athletic Trainer: Lianna Hadden, Michigan State