MONTGOMERY, Ala.—Alabama State University assistant volleyball coach Michelle Osunbor has signed a professional volleyball contract with the Brondby Volleyball Club in Denmark.
It was an opportunity that Osunbor had been looking at but was not sure about making the jump. After a conversation with ASU Head Coach
Penny Lucas-White, Osunbor decided to sign the contract.
"I told her this was an opportunity of a lifetime," Lucas-White said. "I encouraged her to take this opportunity seriously when it came along and I know she will do well in Denmark."
Lucas-White knows about playing overseas from experience. After her career at Louisiana State (LSU) she spent several years playing professional volleyball in Italy and Germany.
"Playing professional volleyball has been a dream of mine for the past 10 years," Osunbor said. "After having two knee surgeries I did not think that I would get the opportunity to do so, so when I was told that a team was interested in me I was overjoyed."
"For Penny to allow me make this transition is something I am also very grateful for. She talks about how going overseas positively impacted her life, so I am only hoping I can do some of what she has been able to achieve in her volleyball career."
Osunbor came to ASU in February from Vernon College and worked extensively with the Lady Hornets front row players on their attacking and blocking as well as overseeing the team's workout regimen.
A native of Dallas, Osunbor played collegiately at Long Beach State University as a middle blocker. Her coach, Brian Gimmillaro, has built one of the top programs in the nation at Long Beach, where he has won three national championships. During Osunbor's career, LBSU won the Big West Conference Championship three times (2008, 2009, and 2011) and made four consecutive NCAA Tournament Appearances.
She was a two-time Big West Player of the Week honoree and led LBSU in total blocks in both 2009 and 2010.
Osunbor will report to Brondby later this month to begin practice.
