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

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