Volleyball | 8/28/2025 11:28:00 AM

BALTIMORE, Md. (Aug. 27, 2025)--This summer, Morgan State senior libero and defensive specialist Mikaela Esparza proudly represented the Bears volleyball team and the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) on the international stage, competing in Botswana.
 
Bring It Promotions (BIP) and the Botswana Volleyball Federation hosted the second annual Ditsala International Cup (May 29-June 1), a premier women's volleyball tournament designed to bring together top collegiate student-athletes from Historically Black Colleges and Universities with national teams from across Southern Africa.
 
The Ditsala International Cup served as the first leg of the U.S. delegation's multi-country African tour, which includes visits to local youth volleyball clinics, cultural sites, and diplomatic engagements.
 
During the trip, Esparza and her fellow HBCU teammates not only showcased their talents in a highly competitive two-day tournament but also took part in cultural and educational exchanges. The group visited the U.S. Embassy in Gaborone, where they met with diplomats, learned about embassy initiatives, and discussed the role of sports in fostering international collaboration and development.
 
Reflecting on her time overseas, Esparza said the experience challenged her both on and off the court.
 
"The biggest lesson I took away was the importance of staying true to yourself while adapting quickly to new environments," said Esparza. "Competing on an outdoor court was a completely different atmosphere from what we're used to in the U.S., where we almost always play indoors. It opened my eyes to how fortunate we are with the resources and opportunities we have at home."
 
A native of Chandler, Ariz., Esparza spent a total of six days in Botswana. While the tournament itself lasted only two days, the remainder of the trip was dedicated to clinics, training sessions, and community engagement.
 
"We had the opportunity to teach the women's national team as well as younger athletes aspiring to reach that level," Esparza said. "It was inspiring to share the skills we've grown up learning while also seeing how volleyball continues to develop there."
 
After their stay in Botswana, the group continued to Zambia and Zimbabwe, where they enjoyed safaris and further exploration of Southern Africa. Esparza attributed her selection to the support of the Morgan State volleyball program and head coach Xiomara Ortiz.
 
"Coach Zee believed I would be a strong representative of both the university and the team on an international stage," she explained. "It was the most amazing opportunity I've ever been given, and I am so grateful to have represented Morgan State, myself, and my background as a Hispanic woman. To compete internationally while standing for my community was an incredible honor."
 
On the court, Esparza and her team excelled. The group went undefeated throughout the tournament, highlighted by a thrilling gold medal match against Bring It Promotions (BIP), a roster featuring players from predominantly white institutions (PWIs), including Division I programs such as Creighton University and Florida International University.
 
"We played about six matches over just two days with only one practice as a team beforehand," Esparza recalled. "Our chemistry clicked immediately, and that connection allowed us to compete at a high level and ultimately secure the gold medal."
 
Looking ahead to the 2025 season, Esparza believes the key to success for the Lady Bears will be trust and unity.
 
"I think it's trust and also just having that energy and mindset to go out and get a win," she said. "If we bond like that and bring that mentality into this year, we're going to be fine."
 
Morgan State begins the 2025 campaign on the road this weekend when it travels to Huntsville, Ala., to compete in the Betty Austin Invitational (Aug. 29-30). The Bears open the tournament on Friday, Aug. 29, against Arkansas-Pine Bluff, before facing host Alabama A&M in the nightcap. Morgan concludes the weekend on Saturday morning against Southern.
 
 
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Morgan State University, founded in 1867, is a Carnegie-classified high research (R2) institution offering nearly 140 academic programs leading to degrees from the baccalaureate to the doctorate. As Maryland's Preeminent Public Urban Research University, and the only university to have its entire campus designated as a National Treasure by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, Morgan serves a multiethnic and multiracial student body and seeks to ensure that the doors of higher education are opened as wide as possible to as many as possible. For more information about Morgan State University, visit www.morgan.edu.