On July 4th, Ryan Quesenberry ’11 will head to Kazan, Russia to represent the USA Volleyball team in the 2013 World University Games.
The World University Games, also known as the Universiade, is an International multi-sport event, organized for university athletes all around the world by the International University Sports Federation. The first official World University Games were organized in 1924.
“The World University Games are like the Olympics for college athletes,” said Quesenberry. “We will be put in an Olympic village in the heart of Kazan.”
Every two years, USA Volleyball sends a team to participate in the Universiade. This year, they contacted Springfield Volleyball Coach Charlie Sullivan, who has worked with USA Volleyball, and asked if Springfield would like to represent the United States in the 2013 Games.
Sullivan had to select 12 players out of the 21 on Springfield’s roster. He saw this opportunity as a chance for the program to develop, so he decided to select only two graduating seniors and the other ten are all players who will be returning to the team next season.
“Many of the players who are going don’t have much on-court experience from their college careers, including myself,” said Quesenberry. “Coach Sullivan sees this as a great learning experience and a chance for us to develop and prepare for the 2014 season.”
Ryan recently finished up his sophomore year at Springfield College in Springfield, Mass., where his school has won the NCAA Division III Men’s Volleyball Championship for two consecutive years now (2012 & 2013).
During his freshman year, Ryan tore the labrum in his shoulder and was sidelined for the majority of the season. Last summer, he had surgery on his shoulder and rehabbed during the entire offseason.
Because there were two seniors ahead of him in his position, he did not get many chances to play during his sophomore season either. However, he was able to make a full recovery and help his team win their second DIII National Championship on April 28th.
After being chosen for this once-in-a-lifetime experience, Ryan hopes to prove that his injury-ridden days are over.
“Russia will be the first time I’ve really been healthy during my college career and will be my first opportunity to gain on-court experience playing Opposite,” said Quesenberry. “I’m going to prepare very hard to make a statement and prove my abilities as a volleyball player, so I can start for Springfield in the 2014 season.”
Preparations for the Games include a rigorous practice schedule accompanied by lifting weights,
conditioning, eating right and staying healthy by going to the athletic trainers regularly.
“When we aren’t at school, we lift weights on our own during the summer and keep our endurance up by running and doing plyometric exercises,” said Quesenberry. “Eating right is one of the most important things we do besides practice because it allows us to gain healthy weight and build a stronger core.”
With all that he has seen and done in his two years at Springfield, Ryan still never forgets where he came from.
“When I started playing volleyball at Loyola my freshman year, I had no idea it would provide me with so many amazing opportunities. If someone told me five years ago I would be a 2-time national champion and headed to Russia to play for my country, I wouldn't believe them. And I'm only halfway done.”