FansVolleyballA closer look at the 2020 Ramblers team.

Two of the Ramblers top players were able to land contracts in Europe for the upcoming 2020-21 season, where they will be playing until they return to, once again, put on a Rambler’s jersey in 2021. Setter, Michael Keegan (IPFW) from San Diego will be playing for Arcada Galati in Romania’s top division, while libero, Ryan Manoogian will be taking his talents to Raision Loimu in Finland’s top league. The pair will be departing overseas in the next couple of months and look to spend the next 6-8 months competing at a high level and refining their craft. Manoogian will be returning to Finland where he played volleyball last year, while Keegan will be pursuing his first venture overseas. It is a common practice for NVA players to play both overseas and here domestically. It allows for players to play year-round volleyball competitively, as the seasons have little overlap.

Manoogian and Keegan were both training with the Southern California faction of the Ramblers up until the COVID pandemic put everything on hold. These two were working hard, building chemistry, and looking to be a major part of the team for the 2020 season. While this was unable to become a reality, they look to continue their careers overseas. Keegan is excited at the prospect of his new opportunity. “(Playing in Europe) has been my goal since I started playing volleyball, and I kept that in mind at every workout and practice” he said in a statement. While Keegan is realizing his volleyball dreams, Manoogian is taking his to the next level. “I am looking forward to going back to Finland’ he stated, “Last season I played well, and I am looking forward to playing in the Finnish volleyball league again because I believe it’s a great league for development for when I attempt to take the ladder to the next step, playing in France and Germany.” While these young athletes may be at different points in their international careers, they both bring a lot to the table for the Ramblers. The team looks to hold on to these guys moving forward into 2021, and they will certainly be keeping an eye on their development overseas.

Follow along for updates on these guys and more on Ramblers social media.