LEXINGTON, Ky. – Salisbury University volleyball standout
Gwen Eustace has been selected to represent the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) overseas as
part of the inaugural AVCA Ambassador Tour, as announced by the organization last week.
Eustace, as part of a contingent of 10 reigning All-America and All-Region student-athletes from across all three NCAA levels, will head to Tanzania and Kenya from June 15-25 with the purpose of engaging with the volleyball communities of the two East African nations through youth clinics, coaching education sessions, community engagement initiatives, and leadership and cultural exchange opportunities. She is one of just three players from Division III selected for the tour, designed to "leverage the sport as a platform for service, community development, and competitive engagement."
"I'm incredibly honored and excited to be selected for the 2026 AVCA Ambassador Tour," said Eustace. "Having the opportunity to help grow the game of volleyball in Tanzania and Kenya means a lot to me; it's about giving back and connecting with others through the sport I love. I'm really looking forward to making a positive impact while also learning and growing from the experience."
"I'm so excited for Gwen and this well-earned opportunity," said Sea Gull head volleyball coach
Kendall Jacobsen. "This is going to be such an amazing experience, and I couldn't think of someone more deserving!"
One of Sea Gull volleyball's all-time greats, Eustace wrapped up her four-year career in November after amassing 1,151 kills and 424 blocks, both top-10 in SU history. She is one of just three Salisbury players to be named an AVCA All-American three times, earning First-Team honors in 2025; she was also named Coast-to-Coast Athletic Conference (C2C) Defensive Player of the Year in 2024 and captured College Sports Communicators (CSC) Second-Team Academic All-America laurels this past January, shortly after becoming the first-ever Sea Gull player to appear in an NCAA Tournament game over four straight seasons.
This will be Eustace's second international trip as a representative of United States volleyball. She and teammate
Kiley McTaggart were part of a Team USA Division III summer all-star team that toured Brazil in 2025.
Salisbury University is a proud member of NCAA Division III with primary membership in the Coast-to-Coast Athletic Conference, along with affiliate membership in the New Jersey Athletic Conference (football, men's & women's swimming), Coastal Lacrosse Conference (men's lacrosse), State University of New York Athletic Conference (field hockey), and Colonial Women's Golf Conference (women's golf). With over 500 student-athletes in 23 varsity sports, SU is recognized as one of the nation's most competitive intercollegiate athletics programs regardless of division, featuring dedicated coaches and staff that foster excellence on and off the field. The Sea Gulls have won a combined 23 team national championships, 24 individual national championships, and 207 conference championships, and have produced 54 Academic All-Americans.
To Make Tomorrow Yours at Salisbury University, and learn more about Sea Gull Athletics' tradition of excellence, visit SUSeaGulls.com or follow on social media @SUSeaGulls.
