Tirana, Albania - Manhattan volleyball is a little more than a week away from its 2018 season opener against
St. John's on August 24 in Queens. But senior hitter
Olyvia Chaltas (Temecula, CA / Great Oak) has been in top form all summer, taking the opportunity to play for the Albanian women's national team, which made a historic run to the semifinals of the Confédération Européenne de Volleyball (CEV) Silver European League Championship.
An Albanian citizen, Chaltas connected with the national team through her Forza1 club coaches in California. For two months, she practiced, worked out, traveled, and played with Albania's premier volleyball athletes, becoming "part of their family."
In between preseason sessions in Riverdale, Chaltas shared a few of her best memories from the summer, and her excitement in bringing her international experience back to the Jaspers.
GoJaspers: You were all over Europe this summer! What are some of the countries the team visited?
Chaltas: We traveled a lot! After training for a few days once I arrived in Albania we were already off to the country of Georgia for our first game. We also traveled to Israel, Macedonia, Austria, Sweden, and Spain after that.
Q: Do you have a favorite memory of your time with the Albanian team?
A: I made so many memories that it's hard to pick my favorite. One highlight of my trip was that we were able to travel to Sweden to play as a part of the final four for the CEV tournament. This was the first time Albania has ever done this, so it was so special for us to make history. We had a great connection and played our hearts out to end up with the bronze medal.
Another favorite memory was the opening ceremony for the Mediterranean Games in [Tarragona, Spain]. All the men's and women's teams from all the Mediterranean countries gathered outside a huge arena, which we walked through one by one as all the spectators cheered us on. After that we stayed in [the athletes'] village with all the teams, which was a great opportunity for us to meet and bond with other countries through our common love for the sport of volleyball. Every day and experience was so wonderful with the team and I loved getting to know all of them and sharing the journey together.
Q: How has playing internationally influenced your game?
A: Playing at such a high level and training with athletes that are so experienced and talented definitely will push you to your highest level. There also seems to be a different style of play in European volleyball. I feel like the game was a little more mental than in America, with players focusing on the smartest plays they can possibly make and a lot of finesse and discipline. Aside from this, they also have a passion for the game that felt so contagious.
Q: What is one thing you've learned that you're excited to bring back to Manhattan volleyball?
A: I'm excited to share this different [style of play] and the fierce passion these girls played with as we start this season off strong!
