Aug. 1, 2022 – A pair of Loras College volleyball student-athletes represented the Duhawks on an international stage in June as rising senior
Patrick Mahoney and recent graduate
Lyndsi Wilgenbusch ('22) traveled to Brazil as members of the USA D-3 Volleyball teams.
The USA D-3 teams are comprised of some of the top NCAA Division III talent in the county, including All-Americans, All-Region, and All-Conference players. In total, the men's team featured student-athletes from eight different schools while the women's team saw six schools represented.
Wilgenbusch was the lone representative for the American Rivers Conference (A-R-C) while Mahoney was the only student-athlete to represent the Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (CCIW).
"Being able to represent the Duhawks on an international scale meant the world to me," Mahoney said. "If it wasn't for Loras giving me an opportunity to put on the purple and gold and play the sport I love then I would have never been able to experience any of this."
"Representing Loras on an international scale was very rewarding and definitely made me feel like I was leaving Loras the best way I could," said Wilgenbusch, who earned All-Region and All-Conference honors as a senior in 2021.
Playing in Brazil gave both Mahoney and Wilgenbusch a chance to play high-level volleyball with some of the top talent in Division III, but it also allowed them to learn and understand more about other cultures outside of the sport.
"Playing with other top DIII individuals was hands down one of the best parts of the trip," said Wilgenbusch. "I learned a lot from each and every one of them. They all brought something to the team and it was so fun to play with others who loved volleyball as much as I do and individuals who had great talent."
"It was really unique to see the different volleyball cultures throughout São Paulo and Rio and their appreciation for the sport, said Mahoney. "Standing side by side with the Brazilians as they played both national anthems and exchanging jerseys with their players was an experience I'll never forget."
With one season of eligibility remaining, Mahoney hopes his experience with the USA D-3 Team will help he and his Duhawk teammates be a better, more cohesive unit, both on and off the court.
"One of the many reasons why I chose to attend Loras was because of how close the team was outside of the court," Mahoney said. "As our USA team got to know each other more and become closer as the trip went on, we played significantly better. It was clear to me that our synergy grew from the first game to the last. We constantly progressed as a team the tighter we got, and I look forward to experiencing that at Loras this upcoming season."
