近距离内射合集

Sure, the different styles of volleyball New Mexico played against in Europe provided some quality insight. Yes, the sightseeing offered its fair share of incredible views. But the food? Well, that was an experience all of its own. 

鈥淚 still miss the gelato there,鈥� Lobos junior middle blocker Reagan Miller said. 鈥淲e had so much ice cream. It just doesn鈥檛 compare.鈥�

As the saying goes: Italy leaves its mark.

And the Lobos had quite a few chances to try the treat during stops in Milan and Venice, where 鈥測ou could get lost for hours just walking around. All the little shots and the boats on the water, it was just really peaceful,鈥� Miller said.

But that wasn鈥檛 their only opportunity to see what Europe had to offer on their nearly two-week preseason tour in early June.

There were also stops in Prague, which felt 鈥渃ramped a little bit. Of course, the architecture was beautiful鈥�, Maribor 鈥�  Slovenia鈥檚 second-largest city, which sits along the Drava River and is surrounded by vineyards 鈥� where the mountain resort Mariborsko Pohorje is located. The Lobos reported the resort was not only 鈥済orgeous,鈥� but had the team feeling they were 鈥渓ess in a city there and more in the country鈥� with all the greenery, and Austria, which left some wishing 鈥渨e could spend more time (there).鈥�

For many of the players, it was their first time outside the 近距离内射合集 States.

鈥淚t was great,鈥� sophomore right-side hitter Addison France said. 鈥淚 think it鈥檚 something not everybody gets to experience, and the fact that we got to go as a team and bond as people and not just teammates was really amazing.鈥�

That had been Brian Hosfeld鈥檚 plan when a gift from an anonymous donor in April made the trip possible. The first-year coach had done similar expeditions during his tenure leading Baylor and as an assistant at Texas. 

He knew the benefits. Seen them, too. Both in real time 鈥� after walking around a city for three-plus hours, the Lobos would head right to the gym for a match, allowing the staff to see how players would adapt to different tactics and even the different volleyballs each country used 鈥� and later on during the season.

鈥淚 think it was huge,鈥� said Hosfeld, whose team opens the regular season against Cal Baptist at 6:30 p.m. Friday in the Pit. 鈥淲e鈥檒l see the dividends pay off throughout the season, but just having that experience, getting to meet everybody in kind of a competitive situation, just not as competitive as a fall season. 

鈥淪o it was good just to get everybody knowing each other, traveling a little bit, sharing meals, things like, a lot of time on the bus. I think it was good for the girls to get to know each other on a different level.鈥�

Even months later, it certainly isn鈥檛 seen as a negative.

Not only for a program that has a different coaching staff and half of the 16-player roster new, but one looking to get back to postseason play. 

UNM finished last season 13-16, including 5-13 in Mountain West play. It meant a second straight year missing the conference tournament. The Lobos had previously made the league event every season it has been played since 1999. (The Mountain West did not hold a conference tournament from 2008-10 and 2012-20.)

This season? UNM was picked to finish last in the 10-team league in this year鈥檚 . UTEP is predicted to be the top program.

Perhaps Europe can provide the catalyst for that turnaround and a few good memories along the way. UNM certainly returned to the States with a few, gelato included.

鈥淚t exceeded my expectations,鈥� Miller said. 鈥淚 didn鈥檛 really know what to expect. I didn't really know a whole lot about any of the places we were visiting, so just to get there was super cool. I would definitely go back.鈥�

Editor鈥檚 note: The Journal provided UNM volleyball with disposable cameras to take on its European trip.

David Glovach covers New Mexico 近距离内射合集 and other sports for the Journal. Reach him at dglovach@abqjournal.com or via X .