Pula, Croatia----The defending SAC and region champion Wingate University Bulldogs will once again be represented at the Global Challenge 2025, with sophomore middle blocker Grace Woodring and sophomore libero Maggie Fillauer heading to Europe this month. The 20th annual Global Challenge will take place July 15-19 in Pula, Croatia. 

Fillauer and Woodring departed for Europe on July 10, landing in Vienna, Austria. They spent the next four days traveling and sightseeing through Budapest, Hungary and Maribor, Slovenia. They arrived in Pula, Croatia July 14 for opening ceremonies, with the matches getting underway July 15. The matches conclude on July 18, with the group traveling to Venice on July 19th. They will return to America from Venice on July 20.

"I'm so excited and incredibly grateful for the opportunity to travel to Europe and play the sport I love while representing Wingate Volleyball" Woodring says. "I'm so blessed to be part of this experience and I'm proud to wear Wingate across my chest. I can't wait to compete, have fun, and make memories with new teammates!"

"I have been excited about this opportunity for months now," Fillauer says. "I am extremely blessed by the Lord to have this opportunity not only just to go overseas and play volleyball, but also be able to go and play with a fellow teammate. It is also great to be able to represent Wingate as a whole going over there, because Wingate is such an important program to me and I am happy to represent them anywhere I go."

The duo helped the Bulldogs to another impressive campaign in 2024, with Wingate going 31-3 overall and 17-1 in the SAC. The 'Dogs captured their 18th regular season SAC title in the last 19 years, adding the 14th SAC Tourney title in 19 seasons. Wingate was the top seed in the NCAA Southeast Region, earning regional hosting duties for the 10th time in the last 15 seasons. The Bulldogs captured their seventh regional title in program history.

Wingate Volleyball International Experience

Woodring and Fillauer join a long list of Wingate players that have competed overseas and international competitions. Last year, All-Americans Emily Johnson and Maya Van Heyst competed in the tournament at Pula. In recent years other Wingate standouts, including Maggie Young, Maddie Hoffman, and Gabby Saye represented the Bulldogs at the Global Challenge. Shannon Kasprak, Maggie Mullen, Sydney Morland and Maya Walker made the trip in 2022. Kasprak also signed a pro contract with TSV Sparkasse Hartberg. Sophie Schaff and Anne Abernathy were selected to the BIP All Star squad in July of 2019, while Phoebe Havenaar and Treslyn Ortiz were a part of the 2018 European Global Challenge. 

Kimberly Hovey was a part of the 2017 Global Challenge, while Rachel Lods, Rachael Cecka and Anna Holmquist competed in the 2016 tournament. Katie Bludau participated in the same event in 2015. Abby Saehler and Kori Adams have also played internationally in the past years. Alison Cooke and Anna Hilton both played for the AVCA All-American team that traveled to Costa Rica. Hilton, along with Iris Brewer, Shelly Stumpff, Lexi Potter, Susie Murach, Cory McGowan and Grace Krauser all were selected to USA teams that competed internationally.

Bring It Promotions (BIP)

Bring it Promotions (BIP) is a full-service volleyball travel agency with partners and staff across the globe. BIP specializes in international volleyball tours and events as well as professional career development. BIP has been running volleyball tours of all lengths and abilities since 1996, offering club, university and "all-star" tours tours for both indoor and beach teams of all levels and ages.

Each tour combines competitive volleyball with sightseeing, unique cultural activities and travel to beautiful cities. BIP is the global leader in managing foreign volleyball tours and are now offering tours to more regions of the world than ever before.