BROOKLYN, N.Y. --- A pair of LIU Brooklyn volleyball players - one current and one former - are using the sport to represent their native countries this summer.
This month, current Blackbird middle blocker Filippa Hansson and alumna Adriana Viñas Joy will compete in tournaments for the Swedish and Puerto Rican national teams, respectively.
Hansson and Sweden are playing in Pool C of the CEV Volleyball European League for Women this weekend, taking on Portugal on Friday, (6/16), Spain on Saturday (6/17), and Slovakia on Sunday (6/18).
The native of Ystad saw action in all 31 matches for the Blackbirds during her freshman campaign in 2016, helping LIU win the Northeast Conference championship and advance to the NCAA Tournament. Hansson was also one of three volleyball players honored as a NEC Fall Commissioner's Honor Roll selection for earning a 3.75 or higher GPA.
Viñas Joy and Puerto Rico are competing in Pool B of the NORCECA Pan American Cup, being held in Peru from June 15-26. Puerto Rico will open competition on Saturday, June 17 against Colombia and face Mexico (6/18), the United States (6/19), Argentina (6/20), and Venezuela (6/21) in the round robin stage.
The former LIU libero and San Juan native played for the Blackbirds from 2012-14 and produced one of the program's most decorated careers. Viñas Joy earned All-NEC First Team honors all four years and was the first-ever four-time recipient of the NEC Libero of the Year award. She also led the Blackbirds to three of their ten overall NEC Championships from 2012-14.