U.S. Olympian Rachael Adams Joins New Club

2016 U.S. Olympic volleyballer Rachael Adams has announced that she’s heading to Turkey to join the club Eczacıbaşı VitrA Voleybol. The move comes after 2 seasons in Italy and 2 seasons in Poland.

The 6’2″ middle blocker spent lasts year with Imoco Volley, based out of Treviso, Italy: a club that included 4 Americans on its roster last season as it topped the regular season table in Italy’s Serie A1 league.

The club she joins is a superpower in one of the world’s most powerful (and highest paying) leagues. The club has won 28 Turkish National League titles, but none since the 2011-2012 season. They’re on a run of three-straight 3rd-place finishes in Turkey, and VakifBank has risen to win 3 of the last 4 titles.

The move to sign Adams is a response by Eczacnbaşı to the VakifBank $1.2 million mega-signing of the Rio MVP Zhu Ting at Outside Hitter.

Adams, a former standout at the University of Texas in the United States, was named co-Middle Blocker of the 2016 World Grand Prix.

Adams tied for thee Team USA lead at the Summer Olympics with .56 blocks-per-set in Rio.

View this post on Instagram

It's that time again! After playing two seasons in Poland and two in Italy, I'm excited to head to Istanbul, Turkey to take on a new team, league, country and adventure with Eczacıbaşı Vitra @eczacibasivitravoleybol for the next 8 months!!✌🏾bye America!!

A post shared by Rachael Adams (@rachaeladams) on Sep 4, 2016 at 12:46pm PDT