Day 1: Touchdown Botswana!

The entire team showed up bright and early, geared up in our new travel fits and ready to begin our journey to Botswana at 6:00 a.m. With a long day of travel ahead, we made sure to stock up on snacks, test the limits of the 50-pound baggage allowance, and grab some Chick-fil-A breakfast before settling in for the 13-hour flight.

One of the highlights of the travel day was meeting our fellow HBCU student-athletes who will also be competing in the tournament while representing their respective institutions. It was exciting to connect before the competition even began.

After what felt like an endless number of movies, naps, and walks up and down the airplane aisles, we finally touched down in Gaborone, Botswana. Hallelujah! By that point, we were running low on entertainment options, and the flight staff had probably seen several of us complete enough laps to count as a workout.

Upon arrival, we received a special surprise from members of the Botswana National Team. We were welcomed with warm hugs and friendly smiles, and it was incredible to immediately connect with people through our shared love of volleyball. Moments like that remind us how sports can bring people together across cultures and continents.

We continued our journey in style thanks to Botswana Sports Group and headed to the hotel, where we enjoyed delicious brick-oven pizza and got our first glimpse of the local wildlife. While the monkeys looked cute and cuddly, we were quickly reminded that they are definitely not for petting!

Next, it was time to hit the court. Joining forces with the other HBCU teams, we had a great training session on an outdoor court, getting acclimated to the environment while also doing our best to fight off the jet lag. It was a valuable opportunity to get touches on the ball and prepare for the days ahead.

We wrapped up the evening with a team dinner and some much-needed rest. Tomorrow kicks off a full day of activities, including a volleyball clinic and another practice.

We are beyond grateful for this opportunity to represent Morgan State University, HBCU volleyball, and our community on an international stage.

Go Bears!