How Lina Merz Went from VC OLYMPIA DRESDEN to SOUTH CAROLINA Volleyball!

Welcome back to The Coop!This week, experience the inspiring journey of NEW Gamecocks Volleyball star, Lina Merz, as she transitions from Germany to the South Carolina Gamecocks! Lina, the first international athlete featured on the show, opens up about her path to playing volleyball in the SEC, balancing academics and athletics, and her cultural adjustment to life in the U.S. From her early days in Germany with VC Olympia Dresden to her excitement about competing in the SEC, Lina shares how her upbringing in a family of elite athletes shaped her passion for sports. She discusses the intense preseason training, the thrill of playing on the right side, and what it means to represent the Gamecocks on the court. Beyond volleyball, Lina talks about traveling the world, her love for coffee, and how she stays grounded through patience and perseverance.Learn more about our partnership with Garnett Trust & South Carolina Athletics: https://www.collegesportsco.com/news/...FOLLOW 1801 MEDIA HERE:► TWITTER | https://www.x.com/1801MediaCo► TIKTOK | https://www.tiktok.com/@1801mediaco?_...► INSTAGRAM | https://www.instagram.com/1801mediaco...► YOUTUBE | https://www.youtube.com/@1801mediaco► FACEBOOK | https://www.facebook.com/people/1801-Media/61566794218642/CHAPTERS:00:00 - Intro02:13 - Preseason04:19 - Culture Shock05:52 - Preseason Training09:21 - Volleyball Journey12:56 - Traveling for Volleyball14:12 - European vs American Sports18:58 - Paperwork Moving to America20:33 - Why South Carolina?21:31 - International Player Recruitment22:31 - Highlights of South Carolina24:00 - Coaching Change25:58 - Season Expectations28:31 - Life Beyond Volleyball30:22 - Career Aspirations Outside Sports#collegebasketball #ncaa #wnba #gamecocks #basketball #sec #sports #volleyball #womenssports