FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Mark Albanese, Assistant Athletic Director for Sports Media Relations

2014 Student Cup

NVL Division III North Standings

Durham University Intercollegiate Athletics

SOMERS, Wis. (Feb. 25, 2014)-- Having exhausted her collegiate eligibility in the United States, University of Wisconsin-Parkside graduate and former volleyball student-athlete Addie Kramer has found a way to extend her collegiate playing days, competing for Durham University in the United Kingdom where she helped the squad win the 2014 British Student Cup.

Kramer, a three-time All-Great Lakes Valley Conference selection, graduated in 2012 with a degree in sport management. She spent the 2012-2013 academic year working for the Ranger athletic department as a graduate assistant before getting the itch to play again and pursuing the opportunity to play again in England.

"Once I was finished with my senior year at Parkside I felt like I wasn't done with playing competitive volleyball. So when this opportunity came up I knew I had to do it," said Kramer.

Intercollegiate athletics in the UK, administered by British Universities and Colleges Sport (BUCS), have less stringent eligibility requirements than the NCAA as student-athletes only need to be enrolled as full-time students to compete on university teams. Collegiate eligibility is not capped at four years like the United States. As a result, several colleges across England recruit former NCAA student-athletes to fill their rosters.

Kramer, who is pursuing a master's degree in Marketing Management, is one of six Americans on the team while also fielding players from Belgium, Spain and Sweden.

Durham won the Student Cup on Feb. 9, besting the 16-team field at the University of East Anglia in Norwich, England. Durham's run in the tournament was capped off with a 2-0 (25-15, 25-14) victory over University of London Union in the finals. Durham's road to the finals included a 2-0 (25-13, 25-9) victory over Sussex University in the quarterfinals and a 2-0 (25-18, 25-23) win over the University of East London in the semifinals. Kramer's team advanced to the final round of the Student Cup after winning Pool A on Feb. 8. That came after winning the regional qualifying tournament on Sept. 11 in Leeds, England.

Run by Volleyball England, the Student Cup is the biggest indoor student volleyball competition in the UK. All affiliated universities and colleges offering credited rated courses are eligible for entry.

In addition to playing against other colleges and universities, Durham additionally fields a squad in the third division of the National Volleyball League, England's professional league. Kramer's team has yet to lose a set this season, sitting atop the standings in Division III North at 15-0. Durham has one more prize left this season, looking to claim the BUCS Championship which will be conducted on March 26.

"Our biggest rival has two women who played on Great Britain's Olympic team so I can say that I have blocked and aced Olympic athletes, which is something I never would have thought I would do." 

"I would definitely recommend athletes' going to Durham after their eligibility is up in the United States.  Not only is the University one of the top in the world but it's also a great way to experience living in a different country and having the ability to travel all around Europe.  I am so grateful I had this opportunity and it is a chapter in my life that I will never forget."

Kramer played for the Rangers from 2008-2011, leaving the program third all-time in kills with 1,158 while ranking fifth all-time in blocks (240). The outside hitter played an instrumental role in qualifying the Rangers for the GLVC Tournament in 2011, making the squad's first trip since 2003.