The team was preparing to depart Rome after a 10-day trip through Italy that combined international competitions with cultural learning experiences.
The earthquake capped a 10-day trip through Italy that is part of Elon University’s efforts to ensure its varsity student-athletes have a study abroad experience during their time at the university. Along with competing in multiple games, the team members delved into international and cultural learning experiences during the tour.
Members of the Elon team along with coaching and support staff were staying the night in Rome preparing to depart the country early Wednesday morning when the earthquake and multiple aftershocks occurred.
Smith told CNN that the tremors from the quake lasted at least 30 seconds at their hotel, even though it was about 100 miles from the epicenter. “It was pretty terrifying,” she said. “We were very scared. … The entire hotel was shaking.”
Faith Shearer, associate athletics director at Elon, is traveling with the team, and said by email Wednesday that the earthquake woke her up. Despite the tremors she and the team felt, Shearer said there was no apparent damage around where they were.
“When I woke up, I thought I heard a noise but then I realized my bed felt like it was rolling back and forth,” Shearer said. “We felt an aftershock 20-30 minutes later that was substantial.”
The earthquake did not delay the team’s travel plans, with the group in the air early Wednesday morning en route to their arrival back in the United States this afternoon.
During the trip, the team visited Florence, Pisa, Venice, the Republic of San Marino and other locations in Italy. Read more about the team’s experiences on the team’s Facebook page.