Pasay City - After about 19 hours of flight, the 24 year old Portland, Oregon open hitter Laura Schaudt (pronounce as “shout”) arrived in the Philippines evening of September 19 to power Team Cignal Women’s HD Spikers for 2016 Philippine Superliga Grand Prix that will open in October 1.
The 6-foot-5 open hitter, who admitted this is her first time in the Philippines or in any Asian country for that matter, will join Olympian Linda Morales as import of Team Cignal along with other 8 participating team in the said tournament.
Playing hardcore volleyball is a thing she misses after a year of working as a facilitator-organiser for Volleyball Training Organization. “It was in Oregon State University when i played volleyball last and after graduating, i did join an organisation that trains new volleyball coaches. I am just glad i can be back in the taraflex court playing my game.
Team Manager Edgar Barroga who was present when Laura arrives said " She's (Laura) is a big help if she can use her advantage which is her height since her position is to block hard spikes of ace players from other team. If she can meet our expectation as one of reinforcement to help our local player, we will play for the Final 4."
Aside from Laura, she will also join 22 year old Hawaii-born Shawna Lei Santos, born from a Filipina mother and Hawaii-Chinese-Portuguese-Irish Father who has a distant family relatives in Bulacan. Shawnee worked as an assistant producer in MSG Network, a sports network in New York City. She and Laura knew each other way back in College tournaments where they play as rivals.
Aside from Laura, she will also join 22 year old Hawaii-born Shawna Lei Santos, born from a Filipina mother and Hawaii-Chinese-Portuguese-Irish Father who has a distant family relatives in Bulacan. Shawnee worked as an assistant producer in MSG Network, a sports network in New York City. She and Laura knew each other way back in College tournaments where they play as rivals.
Shawna Lei arrived with her father Shawn Santos
Together they will be part of the robust team that tapped fiery players as Paneng Mercado, Janine Marciano, Micmic Laborte, Cherry Vivas, Jheck Dionela and comebacking former MVP Venus Bernal.