SAN FRANCISCO - Former Gator Alhana Velasquez '25 is set to return to collegiate volleyball and has secured a post graduate student-athlete opportunity in England.

During four excellent years with the Gators, which included a run to the NCAA Division II National Championship final in 2024, Velasquez made more than 60 appearances for the women's volleyball program while earning multiple academic honors, including CCAA All-Academic recognition, the D2 ADA Academic Achievement Award and CSC Academic All-District honors.

Now, the California native is taking the experience and success she enjoyed at San Francisco State overseas. This fall, she will embark on an exciting 12-month postgraduate journey in England that will see her work towards a master's degree in International Hospitality Management and play another season of collegiate volleyball.

Following significant interest from universities across the UK, Velasquez considered several postgraduate scholarship opportunities before committing to one of the country's top-ranked university volleyball programs where she will once again compete for a national championship.

In recent years, the UK has become a popular destination for former US student-athletes as different eligibility rules permit students to compete alongside their graduate education.

While the chance to play another year of college volleyball initially caught her attention, several other factors also influenced Velasquez's decision to make the move to England. Master's degrees in the UK take only 12 months to complete, tuition is typically cheaper, and former US college athletes can often use their playing experience to earn substantial athletic scholarships.

Velasquez was supported throughout the entire process by UK-based company Play Overseas, who provide a free service to graduating and former student-athletes, helping them to identify opportunities to further both their sporting career and education overseas. Learn more about the UK postgraduate pathway here at https://www.playoverseas.co.uk/

Play Overseas is currently recruiting student-athletes for 2027 entry and beyond. Any student who wishes to explore the possibility of playing a further year of college sport in the UK while pursuing a master's degree can register their interest via the following link: https://app.playoverseas.co.uk/register