A pair of Texas Southern student-athletes in Gracie Lee and Ava Ray, along with head coach Alexis Austin will participate in the third annual Ditsala International Volleyball Cup June 1-13 which will take place in Africa.
The 2026 tour, located in the Republic of Botswana, will run from June 1–13, with stops in Gaborone, Francistown, and Kasane, culminating with a visit to Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe. The tournament itself will take place June 4–6 in Gaborone, featuring two delegations from the USA: Team BIP, led by Cory Solomon, and Team HBCU, led by Dr. Ingrid Wicker-McCree.
Entering its third year, The Ditsala International Cup is a premier women's volleyball tournament bringing together collegiate student-athletes from the United States and national teams from across Southern Africa. For the second consecutive year, the tournament will once again feature two HBCU teams and two mixed Bring It Promotions (BIP) teams. Additionally, the event will expand to include more national teams from the Southern African Zone VI region, marking a significant step in the tournament's growth and regional integration.  All matches will be streamed on BallerTV.
While volleyball will play a major part in the trip, the two-week long trip will also serve as a cultural experience for the athletes and coaches involved. The delegation will visit local schools to promote volleyball while also taking part in various cultural excursions throughout the country.
Both Lee and Ray enter the 2026 season as seniors. Lee is a native of Dallas while Ray hails from Leesburg, Va.
For those interested in donating, please contact the TSU Development and Alumni Engagement at 713-313-4257.
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