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Two of Grand View University’s athletic teams have the opportunity to spend their spring break with their teams this year.

The women’s softball and men’s volleyball teams are both traveling to Orlando, Fl. this spring break to continue their season in a tropical climate. Both teams will be competing against teams from all over the United States in different divisions of competition. This trip will give both teams the chance to bond with each other, compete against more prestige teams and of course, have some fun in the sun.

Head softball coach Lou Yacinich is on his 14th season with the Vikings. These yearly trips get the girls out of the indoor game and start working on their outdoor game. This is the team’s third year going to Orlando. Each year, Yacinich reviews destinations with good weather, good competition and reasonable prices, to make a decision on where the team will travel. Although the team travels to these destinations to play, they get a few days off to vacation while they are there. Their off-days consist of workouts from the strength and training coach but also relax-time. Yacinich sees these trips as beneficial for his teams.

For sophomore Claudia Farrell, these trips are essential for team bonding. Her favorite memory from last year’s trip was hanging out with all the girls and meeting other softball and baseball teams. The only challenge Farrell faces when going on these trips is missing class. Usually, the athletes only miss a day or two, but this year they are leaving three days before classes officially end for spring break. The players have to work hard to make sure they are caught up in all their classes to get everything done before they leave.

The men’s volleyball team also takes yearly trips to different destinations. Head coach Donan Cruz also finds spring and fall break trips beneficial for his players. This is the team’s first year going to Orlando. The most recent trip was taken this fall to Puerto Rico. The volleyball team has four players from Puerto Rico, so this trip gave their families the opportunity to see them and watch them play. This trip also showed the whole volleyball team where the Puerto Ricans come from and helped them learn more about their culture.

“The trip to Puerto Rico was more of a cultural experience than anything else,” Coach Cruz said.

Coach Cruz said he uses these trips to recruit and to have his players meet future recruits. One recruit is from Orlando [this year], so these trips will give him the opportunity to spend time with his future teammates, before his official visit to Grand View. Out of all the trips Coach Cruz has taken his teams on, his favorite was Hawaii. There are a few Hawaiians on the roster and Cruz has family from the island. He said he enjoyed showing the the team the culture he grew up in.

Senior, Rhett Kane, is also from Hawaii. He said he enjoyed going home and showing everyone where he’s from, as well.

“It was good to have everyone there and experience where I’m from,” Kane said. “I could show them all the cool places instead of the touristy places.”

The only downfall Kane sees to these trips is the struggle to focus on playing volleyball. He said sometimes the players forget why they are there–to play their sport. For them, the mindset in the end is to use the trip to make them better athletes. They hope to learn and grow so they can come back and win a conference or national championship.