Stony Brook, N.Y. - It was a busy summer for the Stony Brook volleyball team, especially for six members of the Seawolves who took part in the 2015 European Global Challenge in Croatia.

Head coach Coley Pawlikowski and associate head coach Dan Pawlikowski led the BIP/USA Development Team in the competition and had two players along with them, as seniors Stephanie McFadden (San Juan Capistrano, Calif.) and Nicole Vogel (Costa Mesa, Calif.) suited up for the team. They were not the only Seawolves on the court at the event though, as sophomores Cydney Bowman (Lake Mary, Fla.) and Courtney Scanlan (Salamanca, N.Y.) played for Team BIP (Bring It Promotions, LLC).

"The experience for our athletes at the 2015 Global Challenge this summer was an experience that not only will be a life-lasting memory, but also an opportunity that helped each one of them be challenged and grow in new and different ways,” said head volleyball coach Coley Pawlikowski. “Meeting and competing immediately with teammates they just met, working with different coaches, crossing language barriers while communicating and learning about other cultures and teams, pushing and challenging for a role with a new group … I could go on and on about all the benefits and situations that were simply amazing to watch our athletes experience and grow.

“We are incredibly proud of the four athletes that represented us overseas. It was awesome to see them out of their comfort zone and thriving in an environment that in the past would have been non-existent or intimidating to them without this experience. Adjusting to the level of play was a tough challenge and that opportunity can be equated to various opponents on our schedule this year. This opportunity provided our student-athletes with a chance to work on both their mental and physical weaknesses in a competitive environment that does not reflect in a win or loss on our season or championship. That's what I love about it. It allows our athletes the opportunity to not default in high-pressure situations, but rather self-evaluate and attack how they handle pressure and high-level competition. To see each of our athletes that we have sent grow through this experience is irreplaceable and special. We are so proud of how Steph, Vogel, Cydney and Courtney represented us on this trip and are excited to see how their experience translates in our gym this fall.”

The four Seawolves players in action at the tournament also wrote blog posts for StonyBrookAthletics.com to update friends, family, and fans back home about their experience.

The Seawolves begin their 2015 campaign Friday, Aug. 28 with the first of three matches at the Penn State Classic in University Park, Pennsylvania.