Professional Volleyball Players Like Logan Tom Travel Beyond Borders

Discover the world of professional volleyball players worldwide like American Logan Tom, their journeys, and the global leagues and tournaments they compete in.

Logan Tom jump serving during the Olympics (Daniel J Coomber)

Professional volleyball players from the United States have the opportunity to embark on exciting journeys across various countries.

These players opt to showcase their skills and compete in leagues where teams offer competitive salaries, providing them with a sustainable lifestyle while pursuing their passion for the sport. 

With seasons typically lasting seven to nine months, these professional volleyball athletes get to immerse themselves in different cultures, honing their skills and leaving their mark on the international volleyball scene.

This lifestyle is so much fun and I was fortunate to enjoy it for quite a long time. 

Coach April that's me! A professional volleyball player competing in Italy on the Verona A-2 team during the playoff season.

When a professional volleyball players opt to play overseas, especially in Italy, China, Japan, Russia, Brazil, Turkey and now Azerbaijian, not only is their salary a major consideration for choosing a team but veteran volleyball players know how important it is to know which other foreign players will be on their team.

When professional volleyball players first start out, they are just excited about getting their first contract and being signed to their first professional team.

Back in the day when only two players were allowed per team, playing with a fellow national volleyball team member wasn't always possible but it was usually a professional player's first choice.

Professional volleyball players April Chapple (that's me #7! ) playing with Olympic silver medalist middle blocker Paula Weishoff blocking in the championships of the Serie A-1 division against perennial favorites Teodora Ravenna.

But as professional volleyball players get use to being required to always having to play at high levels of competition, they realize that in order to win, the teammates, the coach and the team's president and support system become very important when having to choose what team they will play for, for such a long season.

The second choice was playing with one of the top professional volleyball players on the national team from another country, preferably a top ranked country with players who have travelled the world and may speak your language.

Trust me, it doesn't always happen, I've been on teams where the common language was Italian, not English.

Win for @rccannes @StanfordWVB alumns @CarlyWopat (7kills 64%,2aces) and #LoganTom (14kills, 67%attk) vs Mulhouse pic.twitter.com/w49r3bSabU

— Volleyball Insomniac (@volleyvids) December 20, 2014

Some professional volleyball players will rely on their teammates to translate until they become bilingual. Usually the coach insists that you talk or try and talk or learn very quickly the language of the team you are playing for.

What I thought was cool about learning languages as a professional volleyball player was that coaches and players repeat themselves continually in a two or three hour practice.

Professional volleyball players know extremely well the basic skills so all they have to do is learn the words that describe each skill.

If you hear the Italian word for "block" 30 or 40 times (The "block" in Italian is called "muro" by the way)  in a two hour volleyball practice then you learn the word pretty quickly. 

Since 2003, Logan Tom Olympic played in two Olympic Games and has played professionally in 10 different countries representing the USA on different volleyball clubs and in different volleyball leagues. 

In Italy, traditionally a place where only the top professional volleyball players in the world are invited to play, Logan played for Monte Schiavo, Jesi followed by a year on the Chieri Women's A-1 Division volleyball team.

Since 2003, Logan Tom Olympic player in four Olympic Games has played professionally in 10 different countries representing the USA on different volleyball clubs.

Well-travelled, well-known, international volleyball celebrity, three-time Olympian and one of the top professional volleyball athletes in the world, Logan Tom should be well-versed in many languages spoken around the globe by now.

She has played all over the world in some of the highest profile professional volleyball leagues which is an awesome experience to have.

The rules have changed for professional volleyball players, so that multiple European Union players are allowed to play per team in Italy.

On the Jesi women's volleyball team, Logan played with six "non-Italian" and six Italian professional volleyball players including

• Poland's national team setter Magdalena Sliwa,
• Italy's two-time Olympian Elisa Togut,
• Italy's national team member Eleonora Lo Bianco,
• Chinese libero Wu Dan, and
• Czech national volleyball team member Marcel Ritschelova.

To say, that team was 'stacked" is an understatement. I would have loved to have played on that super team.

For professional volleyball players, to play together like this presents an incredible opportunity

• to improve their game 
• learn different styles of play 
• to learn the secrets of international volleyball offered in different parts of the world 

from some of the best foreign coaches and players.

It doesn't get any better than that for those professional volleyball players who want to play with/or against the best competition in the world.

On the Chieri volleyball team, Logan and five-time Olympian Danielle Scott-Arruda were the two American players teamed with two Bulgarians and one Brazilian player.

The coach was long time coaching veteran Giovanni Guidetti.

(They say if you can stay around long enough, eventually you get to coach everybody. I'm just sayin'...)

For the 2005-2006 season Logan opted to play in Switzerland specifically on the Volero team in Zurich.

Volero did very well that year but not well enough to keep Logan in Switzerland.

The best international volleyball players are always looking to challenge themselves to become better. 

Logan is no exception to the rule.

Moving to warmer territory she transferred back to a Latin influenced country this time choosing to play in the Spanish league on the Tenerife team.

But once again, the lull of the Tenerife island wasn't strong enough to keep Tom there for more than one season, so she decided to go to the far reaches of the earth to play in Russia.

One of the first American professional volleyball players to do so, Logan played for the super famous Dynamo Team, historically one of the top volleyball club dynasties in Russia.

In 2010, Logan was one of the few American professional volleyball players to play on a team in China.

For the 2012-2013 season, Logan Tom won the Brazilian volleyball championship with Team Unilever under the guidance of the legendary Bernardinho, the Brazilian women's national volleyball team coach.

A smart move on her part, considering that the 2016 Olympics were in Brazil.

In 2013 in Brazil Logan suffered a devastating ankle injury while training in Brazil. 

According to Olympics.NBCSports.com Tom who has played in 8 countries plus the AVP beach tour opted to take Stanford's program based in Florence, Italy to finish her degree.

In 2014 Logan agreed to go to school in Florence and play for an A-1 team in Northern Italy, commuting six hours a day for three days a week to practice and to compete. 

#LoganTom - Yes, she Cannes! :) pic.twitter.com/R56aw44lsT

— Blokaut.net (@blokaut_net) September 24, 2014

Never one to stay in one place very long, Tom returned to Cannes to play in France for the 2014 season. 

In 2015 she played a short stint in Ankara, Turkey and after that she held out until she received the offer from Indonesia. She said what convinced her the most was the short three month season.

Indonesia was the plan for 2016 followed by a visit to New Zealand.

Where in the world is Logan Tom playing next? 

I'm dying to see what Logan Tom's passport looks like aren't you? 

Click to read more about professional volleyball player Logan Tom. 

In addition to individual professional volleyball players like Logan Tom, professional volleyball leagues and tournaments around the world provide an exciting platform for showcasing talent and promoting the sport globally.

Here are some notable professional volleyball leagues and tournaments that attract top professional volleyball players from around the world:

1. FIVB Volleyball World Championships: The FIVB (International Volleyball Federation) organizes the Volleyball World Championships for both men and women. This prestigious tournament features national teams competing for the title of world champions.

2. Olympic Games: The Olympic Games provide a global stage for volleyball players to showcase their skills. Teams from different countries compete against each other in both indoor and beach volleyball events.

3. AVP Pro Beach Volleyball Tour: The AVP Tour is the premier professional beach volleyball tour in the United States. It attracts top players from around the world and features exciting tournaments in various scenic locations.

4. CEV Champions League: The CEV (Confederation of European Volleyball) Champions League is the most prestigious club competition in Europe. It brings together top teams from across the continent to compete for the title of European champions.

5. Brazilian Superliga: The Brazilian Superliga is one of the most competitive professional volleyball leagues for both men and women. Known for its passionate fan base and high-level play, the Superliga attracts players from around the world.

6. Italian Serie A1: The Italian Serie A1 is another highly competitive professional volleyball league that features top teams and players. Many foreign players, including Logan Tom, have played in Italy's elite league.

7. V-League: The V-League in South Korea is known for its strong competition and organized structure. Many elite players from around the world are recruited by South Korean teams to compete in this league.

8. Chinese Volleyball League: The Chinese Volleyball League is one of the fastest-growing leagues in the world. It attracts top players from different countries with its high level of play and significant financial incentives.

9. Russian Super League: The Russian Super League is renowned for its dominance in women's volleyball. Many top players, including Logan Tom, have competed in Russia due to the league's strong infrastructure and competitive environment.

10. Turkish Volleyball League: The Turkish Volleyball League has gained prominence in recent years, attracting both seasoned players and rising talents. Its professional clubs provide a platform for players to showcase their skills on an international stage.

These leagues and tournaments offer professional volleyball players like Logan Tom the opportunity to compete at the highest level, gain exposure, and improve their game. They also provide exciting opportunities for fans to witness thrilling matches and witness the world's best volleyball players in action.

Private or semiprivate volleyball indoor/sand lessons are an excellent way for young Las Vegas high school volleyball players to quickly improve their individual skills through a private or semi-private coaching experience. These lessons are conducted by former pro volleyball player, former USA Volleyball High Performance instructor and Evaluator and Tstreet Vegas 18s head Coach April Chapple on a weekly basis. Sign up now!

Follow me on Pinterest Volleybragswag to improve your game even faster!

I share alot of individual, partner and easy-to-do volleyball serving drills we do in class with my followers.

Many of these volleyball practice drills you can do at home by yourself or try at your next practice with your teammates.

If you're a B team or JV player trying to make varsity next year...your goal should be to complete 1000 reps a day of at least three of the basic skills on your own...volleyball passing, serving and setting should be at the top of the list. 

1. Improve Your Volleyball Performance with Private Volleyball Coach April Chapple
›
2. The Volleyball Professional Plays Overseas in Europe, China and Russia
›
3. Professional Volleyball Players Like Logan Tom Travel Beyond Borders

ShareFacebookXPinterestTumblrRedditWhatsApp