“Congrats.”

That was the only word on a text message from volleyball’s new assistant coach Jen Malcom to senior Ciara Capezio. The only thing that was confusing for Capezio was that she didn’t know what the congratulations was for until she went online.

Once Capezio checked Team USA’s volleyball website, she noticed her name on a list chosen to represent the United States in Italy on the U.S. Collegiate National Team.

Capezio, shocked and excited from the news, texted Malcom to say “thank you” and began the process of calling family members.

“A lot of phone calls that day to friends, family and past coaches,” Capezio said. “It was just an exciting moment for me and my family to see more opportunities that I couldn’t have imagined.”

Capezio walked into the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo., on Feb. 19, lucky to have the opportunity to try out with the best outside hitters in the country. 

Capezio was also happy to have a few of her teammates join her in the experience.

These teammates included Caitlin Nolan, Samara West, Abby Phillips, Jess Schaben and Morgan Kuhrt. All of these players gained a higher knowledge and understanding of not only their position, but the game of volleyball as a whole.

“It was nice to have teammates travel with me because we were able to experience all of these moments together,” Capezio said.

Capezio was named to the U.S. Collegiate National Team on March 21 but won’t see any of her Team USA teammates until early July. 

Capezio said the team doesn’t practice together in the United States, but practices a few times before competition in Italy and Croatia in July.

Some of the matches will take place from July 7 to 9 against Italy’s Federation Team in Milan, Italy. The rest of the matches will be against Croatia’s Junior National Team on July 11 to 14 in Pula, Croatia.

Capezio’s team this summer is one of three U.S. Collegiate National Teams — one team travels to China and the other stays in the United States for the Junior National Championships. 

Capezio said she’s happy about being placed on the team going to Italy because she has experience in Europe.

“I played the Italian Junior National Team when I was 17 and went to Europe and they’re really good,” Capezio said. “Italy has a really good volleyball team.”

When Capezio was 14 years old, she dreamed of playing on Team USA in her lifetime, but now, she’s taking it in as a great opportunity to learn. 

Iowa State’s volleyball coach Christy Johnson-Lynch agrees with Capezio and knows she’ll come back next fall with a better understanding of the game.

Last year, when redshirt senior Morgan Kuhrt came back from China on the U.S. Collegiate National Team, Johnson-Lynch said she could see that next level as a volleyball player. 

That’s what she’s hoping for in Capezio at the end of her time in Italy and Croatia.

“I know this will be a great opportunity for Ciara [Capezio] to have a stronger competition and grow into the leader we need for Iowa State,” Johnson-Lynch said. “This is also one step toward her dream goal of playing professionally, so this will help her realize the competition level.”

Johnson-Lynch is right. Capezio has had the mindset since stepping into college that she wants to play professionally. 

Most of these professional teams are overseas in Europe and Asia, so going to Italy will help her realize whether she wants to continue this dream.

Capezio said she’s still unsure if playing in Europe professionally is still the dream because it could be too far away from family or there could be other factors. As of right now, Capezio is taking advantage of everyopportunity to travel overseas and experience a new culture and country.

Capezio compared the Big 12 to her soon-to-be competition  in Europe this summer. 

She said she knows each match in the Big 12 counts and is always a tough five sets just like in Italy. 

The matches in Italy and Croatia are going to be difficult every time, so she hopes to learn how to continue pushing for her best.

“Being a leader in the Big 12 is hard because you never know what to expect from any team,” Capezio said. “I’m hoping to provide that leadership with my seniors because I’ve had three years of experience in this conference.”

Even though the regular season for volleyball is coming up in the fall, Capezio isn’t looking at that time right now. 

Instead, she’s looking forward to seeing her teammates in Italy and Croatia and spending 10 days in Europe.

“I don’t really know what to expect over the summer, but I’m certain on one thing,” Capezio said. “That is I’m going to have fun playing the sport I love and representing a country I love too.”