Texas Tech University Athletics
Summer Trip of a Lifetime
May 06, 2002 | Women's Volleyball
May 6, 2002
While the spring semester is winding to and end at Texas Tech, many students are making plans for summer adventures and enterprises. Many students will travel back home to enjoy time away from school, others will look to make a little cash by getting a summer job, and some will even be taking summer classes, but for two student athletes this summer will be one they will not soon forget.
Red Raider volleyball players Angela Mooney and Kelly Johnson were nominated and selected to play on the U. S. 20 and under team this summer. The pair will travel to Sibillini, Italy, to participate in an international tournament featuring two teams from the United States, a pair from Italy, and four Eastern European teams. The players will spend two nights in Rome, Italy, before movie to Sibillini Mountains. The matches will be played in small Italian villages with crowds in excess of several hundred. The girls will then have a chance to participate in a three-on-three beach volleyball tournament on the Adriatic coast in the town of Porto San Giorgio.
The girls are very excited at the opportunity to travel and represent their country and also to improve their game against their European counterparts.
"It is a big honor to only have sixteen girls and realize that you are one of the top players," Mooney said about the trip. "It is a big boost of confidence for next fall. It is one of those once-in-a-lifetime things that most people would love to do and I'm very thankful to get a chance to do it."
Angela, the daughter of Ed and Sharan Mooney, was born August 31, 1981. The Lubbock, Texas, native is entering her junior year with the team and is majoring in human development and family studies. Angela is a 2000 graduate of Lubbock Monterey High School where she participated in volleyball, basketball and track. She is looking forward to the chance to see and learn from the European players.
"The style of play in Europe and overseas is different. They are very mature and it will be good to have that diversity," stated Mooney. Kelly Johnson is coming off a very successful freshman campaign, which saw her named Big 12 Newcomer of the Year. Johnson is a 2000 graduate of Arlington Heights High School in Fort Worth, Texas, and is a human development and family studies major. She was born July 29, 1981, to Chris and Linda Johnson.
"It is a big deal," Kelly said. "Being able to represent America, that's a big honor. But we are also representing Texas Tech and the Big 12 Conference. I'm very excited about traveling and seeing Europe. Volleyball is different there, they are very scrappy."
So while many Tech students are mowing lawns, flipping burgers, or taking classes, these girls will be making serves and digs half a world away. Angela and Kelly will be back in action for the red and black this fall, but for a few weeks this summer they will be wearing the Red, White and Blue and enjoying the summer trip of a lifetime.
