Temple University Athletics
Yun Yi Zhang
Former Volleyball Standout Yun Yi Zhang Will Play Professionally in Puerto Rico
12.19.11 | Women's Volleyball
PHILADELPHIA - Temple volleyball alum Yun Yi Zhang ('11) who was an AVCA All-American honorable mention selection for the Owls in her senior year (2009), has now signed to play professionally with the Guaynabo Mets in the top league in Puerto Rico.
Zhang, who has been serving as an assistant coach at Lehigh since June of 2011, will travel to her temporary home in Guaynabo, Puerto Rico, on Wednesday, Dec. 21, and join the team which has already started practicing for the upcoming season. The 10-team league will play matches from the middle of January up through the end of April or early May.
"I'm very excited for my first professional playing experience," said Zhang. "I've been contacted by some teams in other countries over the past couple years, and was waiting for the right fit. This is a good level of volleyball and a short season. It's close to the states and I can keep my job (at Lehigh)."
Zhang, who has stayed in shape since her collegiate career ended, spent the first week of December in Puerto Rico as part of a tryout for her new team. She impressed the coaching staff enough to get an offer immediately, despite not playing competitively since her senior year at Temple. She says if the season goes well she would consider future professional opportunities in other countries.
A 6-4 outside hitter, Zhang led all players in NCAA Division I with 5.55 kills per set (544 total kills) in 2009, and was an Atlantic 10 First Team selection as well as an AVCA All-Region First Team honoree. Zhang finished her Temple career with 1,656 kills to rank third all-time in the history of the program despite having only three seasons with the Owls.
"This is a great opportunity for Yi to compete professionally and we're really proud," said Temple second-year head coach Bakeer Ganes. "It goes to show that a player from our program can move on and become a pro in a high-quality league like this, and hopefully she won't be the last. The program has had numerous players move on to a higher level in the past, and that's a tradition we want to keep up."
Zhang, who has been serving as an assistant coach at Lehigh since June of 2011, will travel to her temporary home in Guaynabo, Puerto Rico, on Wednesday, Dec. 21, and join the team which has already started practicing for the upcoming season. The 10-team league will play matches from the middle of January up through the end of April or early May.
"I'm very excited for my first professional playing experience," said Zhang. "I've been contacted by some teams in other countries over the past couple years, and was waiting for the right fit. This is a good level of volleyball and a short season. It's close to the states and I can keep my job (at Lehigh)."
Zhang, who has stayed in shape since her collegiate career ended, spent the first week of December in Puerto Rico as part of a tryout for her new team. She impressed the coaching staff enough to get an offer immediately, despite not playing competitively since her senior year at Temple. She says if the season goes well she would consider future professional opportunities in other countries.
A 6-4 outside hitter, Zhang led all players in NCAA Division I with 5.55 kills per set (544 total kills) in 2009, and was an Atlantic 10 First Team selection as well as an AVCA All-Region First Team honoree. Zhang finished her Temple career with 1,656 kills to rank third all-time in the history of the program despite having only three seasons with the Owls.
"This is a great opportunity for Yi to compete professionally and we're really proud," said Temple second-year head coach Bakeer Ganes. "It goes to show that a player from our program can move on and become a pro in a high-quality league like this, and hopefully she won't be the last. The program has had numerous players move on to a higher level in the past, and that's a tradition we want to keep up."
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