By LAURA BORRELLI
Web Editor
Leaving home is not something that is easy to do for the average college student, but imagine leaving family and being immersed in a whole new culture. Junior Anna Maggiolo is an international student hailing originally from Venice, Italy. She transferred from Cowley College in Kansas.
Before Maggiolo found her passion in volleyball, she was a swimmer. She swam for many years, but she swam alone and was unable to be in a team-like atmosphere. She soon joined volleyball to play on a team and be with her friends.
Maggiolo’s uncle was a professional volleyball coach in Italy, and she was able to learn about the scholarship opportunities that athletics, specifically volleyball, had to offer in the United States.
“I always wanted to study abroad,” said Maggiolo.
She enjoyed her time at Cowley, but needed somewhere new to go. She reached out to Saint Rose’s Head Volleyball Coach Vanessa Volpe when she came to visit.
“I had an amazing time with the girls and I love the snow,” said Maggiolo.
The atmosphere in Albany is very different from Kansas, and Maggiolo said she likes the change. Maggiolo looked at a lot of different schools, but she just did not find her fit, until Saint Rose.
Her teammates at Saint Rose made an everlasting impression on Maggiolo; she said she feels good being around them.
“They are great people and are always helping me,” said Maggiolo.
Volpe is very happy with the new edition on her team.
“Anna brings intensity, drive, willingness, and hunger to win,” said Volpe.
Maggiolo played for many different clubs back home in Italy, and came to Saint Rose with experience of playing on the field with a collegiate volleyball team.
Volpe is glad Maggiolo was able to come to Saint Rose with the experience of playing at a higher level.
“Anna had a great experience and continues to have a great experience at Saint Rose,” said Volpe. “She brings a competitiveness to the team.”
Maggiolo is a middle, and as a middle she needs to have height and speed to block and attack the ball. Volpe says Maggiolo is very consistent and has a lot of potential.
“She has one job and that job is to play,” said Volpe.
Maggiolo is one of two international players on the Volleyball team.
“We have an open arms culture on the team,” said Volpe.
Volpe said that she and the team are very excited to have a diverse range of cultures.
Sophomore Nadia Lau, a member of the volleyball team, said she is excited for the upcoming season with Maggiolo.
“I love the fact that she is my neighbor and we have classes together,” said Lau.
Lau spends a lot of time with Maggiolo, and said she is happy that she comes to the rest of the team when she needs help or support.
“Anna is very honest and shows what she is feeling,” said Lau.
Lau said she loves to see Maggiolo learning new things and experiences that seem normal to us.
“Anna is very passionate about what she does,” said Megan Mayer, another sophomore on the team.
Mayer said it is fun to have different languages on the team. Volpe said sometimes they forget that she has to process everything in English when she thinks in Italian.
Maggiolo said she is very happy to be here with her teammates. It is really hard being away from home, and her big family, but her teammates help fill that void.
“We spend so much time traveling and practicing together,” said Maggiolo. “I would not have come to Saint Rose without the support from my team.”
