May 30, 2018
Colorado Springs, Colo.-Current San José State volleyball players Thaliana Grajeda and Laura Parts are two of the 12 players selected to comprise an all-star team representing the Mountain West at the 2018 Global Challenge in July. Spartan assistant coach Alex Luna will also be on the trip to help New Mexico head coach Jeff Nelson.
Twelve student-athletes from eight of the 11 MW institutions will travel to Europe from July 4-15. The team will spend several days training and playing friendly matches against national teams from the region. The team will then compete in the 14th annual Global Challenge in Pula, Croatia, with opening ceremonies on July 9, and competition on July 10, 11, 12 and 13. The 2017 team finished as the runners-up at the event.
Grajeda is a starting middle blocker for the Spartans. She averaged 1.79 kills and 0.76 blocks per set last season and hit .269 for the year. Grajeda recorded a career-best 16 kills in a win at Drake. She recorded a career-best 11 block assists against Southern Utah her freshman year.
Parts just completed her first year on the court for the Spartans, playing at middle blocker and right side. She played in 24 matches and averaged 1.94 kills and 0.52 blocks per set. Parts recorded a career best 16 kills in a win at Fresno State and had five blocks in a home match versus Wyoming.
They are the sixth and seventh Spartans to represent San José State on this team. Other players included Hanah Blume, Tyanna Roy, Luiza Andrade, Nandyala Gama and Breann Robinson.
The MW squad will be led by 2017 Mountain West Newcomer of the Year Breana Runnels from Colorado State. Joining Runnels in Croatia will be Air Force's Shanleigh Conlan, Boise State's Sabryn Roberts and Cassedi Simon, Fresno State's Aubrey Folk, New Mexico's Hailey Rubino and Yasmin Tan, San Diego State's Ashlynn Dunbar, San José State's Thaliana Grajeda and Laura Parts, and Utah State's Bailey Downing andTasia Taylor.
2018 Mountain West Global Challenge Team
| Name | Institution | Height | Position |
| Shanleigh Conlan | Air Force | 5-6 | S |
| Sabryn Roberts | Boise State | 5-9 | OH/OPP |
| Cassedi Simon | Boise State | 5-9 | S |
| Breana Runnels | Colorado State | 5-10 | OH |
| Aubrey Folk | Fresno State | 6-3 | OH |
| Hailey Rubino | New Mexico | 5-11 | OH |
| Yasmin Tan | New Mexico | 5-11 | MB |
| Ashlynn Dunbar | San Diego State | 6-0 | OH |
| Thaliana Grajeda | San José State | 6-0 | MB |
| Laura Parts | San José State | 6-2 | MB/RS |
| Bailey Downing | Utah State | 6-0 | MB |
| Tasia Taylor | Utah state | 5-6 | L |
Head Coach: Jeff Nelson, New Mexico
Assistant Coach: Alex Luna, San José State
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