Many students from all over the world travel abroad to study. But not many can say they did it while playing a college sport. Here in Norfolk, at Northeast Community College, on the Hawks volleyball team, Gabriela Motta, traveled 5,662 miles from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, to play volleyball.

Motta said that one of  reason she came to Northeast was to continue and grow her volleyball career. In Brazil she played as a setter or as a libero on her team. Here at Northeast her duties are similar. She plays as a defensive specialist for the Hawks.

Motta plans on going home during Christmas break, but will be returning to Norfolk for her second semester. Then she will be going back home at the end of the spring semester then will be back for her second year. Motta plans to stay in the United States after she finishes at Northeast. She is hoping to play volleyball for a school in Florida or in that area. Motta is 19 years old, and is studying business administration. She says that she really likes living here because she always has her closest friends around her and that is something she didn’t have in Brazil.