TAHITI, French Polynesia – Nicholls State University setter Alyse Barclay recently competed as a member of the New Zealand National Team in the 2015 Tahiti Volleyball International Tournament. The tri-country round-robin style tournament took place on the remote island of Tahiti, located between Australia and South America.
 
A sign of our ever-growing technological society, Barclay learned of her selection to the national team via Facebook.
 
"I was in San Francisco when they announced the team, so I actually got a Facebook message from the Head Coach, then FaceTimed with him," Barclay said.
 
The final squad was chosen from a pool of more than 60 athletes. The selection committee was familiar with Barclay, who represented her country at a 2012 tournament in Vietnam.
 
"It's a pretty special feeling to find out they want you to be a part of the team," Barclay said. "I'm a proud to be a 'Kiwi' so when we were given all our gear with the New Zealand flag and silver fern, it was an awesome moment. It's something only a few people get to experience, so I am very grateful and will definitely never forget it."
 
The Tahiti and New Caledonia women's national teams rounded out the field at the event. Tahiti ultimately won the tournament, but New Zealand was able to earn victories over each of its competitors. Both Tahiti and New Caledonia fielded professional volleyball players, and Barclay says the coaching she has received at Nicholls helped prepare her to keep pace with that kind of high-level competition.
 
"My time playing at Nicholls has helped 'grow my tool box' in terms of knowing what to do against different kinds of players and teams," Barclay said. "I've learned how to read a hitter and look for holes in their defense. Both Tahiti and New Cali had hitters that were more powerful than I had experienced before. They also were extremely good servers so the first couple days we struggled until we got used to them. The only thing I wasn't prepared for was playing on the polished concrete floor that we had to play on in Tahiti. The crowds and fans were also one of a kind. It's a small country, but the stands were packed, so it felt like the whole country was at the games. They're a volleyball mad country!"
 
Barclay attributes her success internationally to playing at Nicholls.
 
"My coaches at Nicholls definitely helped prepare me and helped me improve tremendously over the last three years in all areas of my game," Barclay said. "I've improved my setting, serving and blocking since my last tour with the New Zealand team. Being able to get in the gym every day and practice skills over and over again means I am constantly improving my consistency and precision, especially with my setting.
 
Barclay says the tournament has energized her and she looks forward to returning for the upcoming 2015 season.
 
"This experience has given me the opportunity to play volleyball with a different group of girls, work on my game and more importantly it's given me a taste for playing again. I hadn't had any competition since the fall, so I am super excited for August to get back in the gym with the girls to prepare for my senior season!"
 
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