ST. JOSEPH, Mo. – Griffon Volleyball student-athletes Anna Weberg and Holly Heldt have been selected to compete on the USA D-II Volleyball Team – Brazil Tour 2026, as announced by Ron Smith of USA Sports Tours & Events.
Weberg and Heldt were chosen as part of the USA D-II Volleyball RED TEAM, which features 10 NCAA Division II student-athletes from across the country representing seven different colleges and universities. The team is comprised of players who earned recognition nationally, regionally, and within their respective conferences during the 2025 season.
Weberg earned All-MIAA Second Team honors during the 2025 season while also being named CSC Academic All-District and to the MIAA Scholar-Athlete. The Griffon libero recorded 555 digs (5.09 per set), ranking among the top defensive players in the MIAA, while adding 89 assists and 27 service aces. She also posted a .947 reception percentage on 545 serve receive attempts and appeared in all 109 sets during the season.
Heldt also collected All-MIAA Second Team honors in 2025 while earning CSC Academic All-District recognition and a spot on the MIAA Academic Honor Roll. The Griffon outside hitter totaled 232 kills (2.15 per set) and 53.0 blocks (0.49 per set) during the season while adding 382 digs (3.54 per set), 35 service aces, and 13 assists. Heldt finished the year with a .295 hitting percentage on 784 attack attempts during the 2025 campaign.
"This is an outstanding group of young women," said Ron Smith of USA Sports Tours & Events. "Many of the players on this year's USA D-II Volleyball Team – Brazil Tour had great individual seasons and led their teams into postseason play. This tour is designed to expose players to a great volleyball experience while providing a once in a lifetime opportunity for educational, cultural and social growth."
The 10-day international tour will run from May 11-20 and begin with team orientation in Orlando, Florida before traveling to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. During the tour, the USA D-II teams will compete in multiple international matches against Brazilian clubs and participate in the "International Challenge" event on May 16 against Fluminense and Barra Mansa Volei Clube.
In addition to competition, the teams will take part in a youth volleyball clinic hosted by Ripper Volei Clube at Marina Barra Clube as part of a community outreach initiative already filled to capacity.
While in Brazil, the team will experience the educational, cultural, and social aspects of Brazilian life through city tours, school visits, and interactions with local sports clubs. The tour also includes visits to some of Brazil's most iconic landmarks, including Christ the Redeemer, Sugarloaf Mountain, Copacabana Beach, and Ipanema Beach.
Heldt and Weberg continue a strong tradition of Griffon volleyball student-athletes earning opportunities to compete on the international stage while representing MoWest and NCAA Division II volleyball.
