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.