Volleyball to Host Tianjin Juniors

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – Coming off its second consecutive Southland Conference Championship, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi volleyball will host Tianjin Junior Women's Team from China for a pair of exhibition matches on January 30 and 31 at the Dugan Wellness Center.
 
Both matches will take place at 6:30 p.m. with admission free and open to the public.
 
"We're excited to have the Tianjin Juniors come to the Island," said head coach Steve Greene. "Not only will they provide a great challenge on the court, but it gives our team a chance to interact with and experience another culture.
 
"Tianjin has long been one of the top volleyball clubs in China and most of these players are on track to play in the Olympics," continued Greene. "This is a great opportunity for our team, fans and community to see some of the top volleyball players in the world compete right here in Corpus Christi."
 
The two matches are part of a US tour for Tianjin as the club will face a number of collegiate programs during their visit.
 
The Tianjin squad visiting Corpus Christi is the junior's team, with a roster comprised of 16-20 year old athletes. Each of the players are signed to professional contracts with the Tianjin Bohai Bank organization. Tianjin's pro team has won the Chinese Volleyball League in 11 of the past 15 seasons.
 
The club has captured gold at each of the past three National Games of China and is a four-time champion at the AVC Club Volleyball Championship. Tianjin is a direct feeder to the Chinese National Team with its players on track to represent China on the international and Olympic stage.
 
The Islanders feature 11 returners from the 2016 Southland Conference champion squad. The Blue and Green will also have a pair of newcomers at their disposal in the two matches.