DENVER, Colo. – Regis University Volleyball's senior outside hitter Alayna Pruitt represented the Rangers internationally in June at the 3rd Annual Ditsala International Cup in Botswana.
Hosted by Bring It Promotions (BIP) in collaboration with the Botswana Volleyball Federation (BVF), The Ditsala International Cup is a premier women's volleyball tournament uniting collegiate student-athletes from the United States with national teams from across Southern Africa.
Pruitt, along with players, recent grads, and coaches from Morgan State University, Texas Southern University, Prairie View A&M University, Campbell University, Tennessee State University, Albany State University, and Boston College competed in a tournament that included Team HBCU, Morgan State University, and the Botswana and Zambia National Teams.
"We had 3 practices in total where we played with the Botswana team and Morgan State team," said Pruitt. "Practicing with our future opponents was very interesting because I was able to see how much we had in common, from our skill set and effort, and even got to see how different volleyball is across the World. This experience taught me that volleyball is a language that can help connect people from various backgrounds. My team was an accumulation of girls from a multitude of different colleges, and we had a limited time to bond and create connections with each other, but through volleyball, we were able to not only connect over our sport but also through friendship created through volleyball. Our authenticity shined through our play, and it connected us all, allowing us to build connections in an extremely short period of time. "
Pruitt played on Team HBCU, defeating Zambia and Botswana, before falling in five sets to Morgan State in the Championship Match.
Pr
uitt continued, "Through the practices we were able to see our opponents up close, but through the games we were able to see them in their element with all the locals packing out the stands. Both teams played with such enthusiasm, each play, point, and skill shone with personality and expression. Their style of play influenced my team to allow their personality to show through our play as well. Their cheers were so vibrant and really long, but I couldn't help but enjoy it with them. After the game a few of us gave away our volleyball shoes to one of the opposing players and it was a beautiful exchange."
After the tournament, participants traveled to the cities of Gaborone, Francistown, and Kasane to visit local schools and conduct youth camps. They would run various drills, share advice about how to improve on and off the court, and do Q & A sessions.
"After the Q/A sessions, we took so many photos, did TikToks with the kids, I ran out of storage when I taught them how to use my digital camera. It was great having the space to share my knowledge and experience with them."
In addition, the trip included visits to the US Embassy, Mokolodi and Khama Game Reserves, a river cruise safari on the C
hobe River, and a trip to Victoria Falls.
"On the safari trips and saw a lot of different animals like rhinos, hippos, monkeys, elephants, and my favorite: zebras. I enjoyed seeing all these animals up close in their natural environments. All the driving that we did also gave me time to see the city and rural parts of Botswana and Zambia. Such a mind-warping experience to see an elephant on the side of the road as we were driving. It was also an amazing opportunity to meet the Ambassador of Botswana at the US Embassy. We ate in his backyard and had great conversations with him and his staff about opportunities for students to work abroad and pathways towards that."
The vision for the Ditsala International Cup was born in 2018, following a landmark visit by Howard University to Botswana and Zimbabwe. This historic trip laid the foundation for a tournament that would celebrate cultural exchange, athletic excellence, and international collaboration. In 2024, Howard University returned to Botswana to participate in the inaugural Ditsala International Tournament. Demonstrating exceptional performance and leadership, Howard University emerged as the first-ever tournament champion, solidifying their legacy in the competition's history.
The 2025 edition of the tournament saw the inclusion of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), which fielded two teams, along with two mixed BIP Teams. Rangers' Head Coach Joel List served as one of the BIP Team's coaches in 2025. The HBCU Yellow Team claimed the championship title, further elevating the tournament's competitive spirit and impact.
For more information about the Ditsala International Cup, click here.
