SAN DIEGO – The San Diego State volleyball program was represented on the Mountain West touring squad that captured the gold medal at the 2023 Global Challenge, held July 13-23 in Europe.
Middle blocker Julia Haynie was the lone Aztec player named to the league's traveling team, while Melanie Greene served as co-head coach of the MW delegation that featured 12 student-athletes from eight conference institutions.
San Diego State's participation in the 2023 Global Challenge was supported by the SDSU Athletics Women's Fund.
The Mountain West touring squad spent the first four days of its excursion (July 13-16) in Maribor, Slovenia, for training and friendly competition against various club and national teams before traveling to Pula, Croatia, for the opening ceremony.
After four days of competition (July 18-21), the triumphant MW all-star team enjoyed a spectacular day of sightseeing in Venice, Italy (July 22), followed by a return flight to the United States.
A native of Temecula, Haynie occupied the fifth spot in the Mountain West during the 2022 campaign with a career-best .356 hitting percentage, committing one attack error or less in 15 matches. The Aztec middle blocker ranked third on the squad in total blocks (43) and sixth in kills (137), the latter of which marked a collegiate high. She also recorded multiple blocks in 10 matches and surpassed the double-digit kill plateau on four occasions.
Haynie came up huge in the final two matches of the regular-season, helping SDSU clinch the sixth and final spot in the Mountain West Championship after combining for 20 kills (.529), nine digs and five total blocks in must-win road victories at Nevada and San José State.
A 2007 alumna of San Diego State, Greene is entering her 13th season as an assistant coach on the Aztec staff after serving a three-year stint as a part-time volunteer. During her senior season in 2006, she ranked fourth in the Mountain West with an average of 3.68 kills per set (404 total), earning team MVP honors while serving as the Aztecs' captain.
San Diego State opens its 2023 campaign on Tuesday, August 22, when it plays host to North Florida in an exhibition match, beginning at 6 p.m. PT. The Aztecs commence their regular-season slate in the Pacific Northwest at the Portland State Tournament where the Scarlet and Black will square off against Cal State Fullerton, Kansas State and the host Vikings on successive days, August 25-27, in Portland, Oregon.
For more information on the SDSU Athletics Women's Fund, click on the link at the top of the page.
Two Aztecs Win Gold Medals for MW Squad in Europe
