Alumna Selected for USA Deaf Women's National Volleyball Team

Bengal alumna Abby Garrity, Class of 2018, has been selected to the USA Deaf Women's Volleyball Team. After beginning her volleyball career in 7th grade, she became a standout player at ISU and went on to thrive at the international level. She won two gold medals and a bronze in 2016 and 2017.

Now she is back, playing for one of the most promising programs in the world. The USA Deaf Women's Volleyball Team finished second at the Deaf World Championships last summer, and now with Garrity joining for the upcoming Deaflympics the team will be going for gold. This November, they will travel to Tokyo to compete against the world's best deaf teams in the hopes of bring back the gold.

Garrity says it can be a challenge not hearing very well on the court, but it has helped enhance her technique.

"It’s forced me to see the court better since I can’t rely on teammates telling me what is spots are open mid play," said Garrity. "I also try and make eye contact with coaching staff to make sure I’m not missing anything being said. On the deaf team, we cannot wear our equipment when we play that helps us hear. We use sign language and I read lips really well."

Read more about the athlete here.