How Lina Merz Went from VC OLYMPIA DRESDEN to SOUTH CAROLINA Volleyball!
Description
Welcome back to The Coop!
This week, experience the inspiring journey of NEW Gamecocks Volleyball star, Lina Merz, as she transitions from Germany to the South Carolina Gamecocks! Lina, the first international athlete featured on the show, opens up about her path to playing volleyball in the SEC, balancing academics and athletics, and her cultural adjustment to life in the U.S. From her early days in Germany with VC Olympia Dresden to her excitement about competing in the SEC, Lina shares how her upbringing in a family of elite athletes shaped her passion for sports. She discusses the intense preseason training, the thrill of playing on the right side, and what it means to represent the Gamecocks on the court. Beyond volleyball, Lina talks about traveling the world, her love for coffee, and how she stays grounded through patience and perseverance.
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CHAPTERS:
00:00 - Intro
02:13 - Preseason
04:19 - Culture Shock
05:52 - Preseason Training
09:21 - Volleyball Journey
12:56 - Traveling for Volleyball
14:12 - European vs American Sports
18:58 - Paperwork Moving to America
20:33 - Why South Carolina?
21:31 - International Player Recruitment
22:31 - Highlights of South Carolina
24:00 - Coaching Change
25:58 - Season Expectations
28:31 - Life Beyond Volleyball
30:22 - Career Aspirations Outside Sports
#collegebasketball #ncaa #wnba #gamecocks #basketball #sec #sports #volleyball #womenssports
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