US exchange student Brooke White, 17, from Cheyenne, Wyoming, is making the most of her cross-cultural sporting and study experience.
AMERICAN exchange student Brooke White wants to cap off her Warrnambool representative volleyball career with a tournament win.
The Wyoming native will represent South West Pirates at Warrnambool Volleyball Association’s annual seaside carnival this weekend.
White, 17, said the three-day competition would be her last as a Pirate. Her Rotary exchange adventure ends in May.
White plays for the Pirates’ women’s division two side.
“It would be really good to win the tournament and for the juniors it would be exciting and for everyone because it’s our home tournament,” White said.
“I think we will do well. We are pulling up three junior girls to play with us.
“We will have to help them because they may struggle a little but but I think we will be fine.
“We went to Bendigo for a tournament a couple of months ago and we did pretty well. We were third overall in our division.”
White arrived in Australia in July last year.
A keen volleyball player, the Warrnambool College exchange student quickly signed on to play the sport in her home away from home.
“I was playing with them within a week of getting here,” she said.
White, who lives in the Wyoming capital Cheyenne, said she started playing volleyball seven years ago and competes as either a left or right-side hitter.
South West Pirates division two women’s coach Suzi Fish said White was a strong hitter and server and would leave a hole in the team when she left.
“Her enthusiasm and experience has been really good and the fact she can relate to the young girls,” she said. “It has been a joy to have her, really nice to have her.”
Fish said the Pirates, with a mix of youth and experience, expected to finish in the top half of the draw this weekend.
White said making life-long friendships was the best part of her Australian trip.
“It has been amazing, it’s gone way too quickly,” she said.
justine.mc@fairfaxmedia.com.au
