New Mexico Volleyball closed out its European Foreign Tour with a final stretch through Italy, spending time in Venice, Padova, Milan and the Lake Como region while adding two more matches against local competition.
After wrapping up its time in Slovenia, the Lobos headed to Venice on June 9 for a full day of sightseeing with no volleyball on the schedule. The team had time to explore one of Italy’s most recognizable cities, visiting areas around Piazza San Marco and Doge’s Palace while also enjoying time for shopping, gelato and wandering through Venice’s canals and narrow streets in small groups.
Magical day in Venice ✨ pic.twitter.com/ScVCzzR2q8
— New Mexico Volleyball (@UNMLoboVB) June 9, 2026
UNM continued its Italian portion of the trip on June 10, traveling to Padova for a match against local team USMA Padova. The stop gave the Lobos another opportunity to compete internationally before continuing on to Milan, where the team settled in for the final leg of the tour and spent the evening in the city center.
Another DUB in Padova 😤 pic.twitter.com/n2A3hLt4pP
— New Mexico Volleyball (@UNMLoboVB) June 10, 2026
On June 11, the Lobos took in some of Milan’s most iconic sights, including the Duomo and Galleria district, before continuing their time in Italy with more team activities and sightseeing. The final full day of the trip began in the Lake Como region, where UNM spent the morning and afternoon taking in the views, enjoying lunch and exploring one of northern Italy’s most scenic destinations.
Ciao Europe 🥲 pic.twitter.com/I9aEv6fojx
— New Mexico Volleyball (@UNMLoboVB) June 12, 2026
Following the team’s time at Lake Como, the Lobos traveled to Lurano, Italy, for their final match of the foreign tour against Lurano Volley. The match closed out the competitive portion of the trip, giving New Mexico one more chance to gain international playing experience before returning home.
The Italy stretch capped a memorable European tour for the Lobos, blending sightseeing in some of the continent’s most historic and scenic locations with valuable time together on the court. Across the trip, UNM played six matches against four local clubs in multiple countries while using the experience to build chemistry, grow as a group and create lasting memories ahead of the 2026 season.