University of North Texas Athletics
Chamberlain Signs With Sporting Cristal
8/22/2018 2:16:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
DENTON – Former North Texas middle blocker Amanda Chamberlain will embark on her professional career after signing a one-year contract to play for the Sporting Cristal of the Liga Nacional Superior de Voleibol in Peru.
"It means a lot to me," Chamberlain said. "I've been excited to go pro ever since I saw Carnae go do it, and found that I had an opportunity to do it too."
Chamberlain will report to Lima, the home of her new club, on Sept. 2 and the season is set to begin in early December. The regular season will run until mid-April and playoffs will take place the final two weeks of April.
"I'm excited that it's going to be summertime down there and I get to be by the beach," Chamberlain said. "I get to see new things and experience a different culture."
She is the third player from North Texas head coach Andrew Palileo's tenure to sign a professional contract, following outside hitters Carnae Dillard and Courtney Windham.
"Amanda worked really hard to get herself in a position to have this opportunity," Palileo said. "It's a good opportunity for her to showcase her talents, and I'm looking forward to following her."
Dillard played one season with Engelholms Volleybollsällskap and was named Player of the Year in the Elitserien League, and Windham played for Straubing Volleyball Team in Germany.
"[Carnae] gave me a lot of insight on what to look for and what overseas life is really like," Chamberlain said.
Chamberlain left the Mean Green as the only student-athlete to twice be named AVCA All-Region and rack up 1,000 kills and 370 blocks. A two-time First Team All-Conference USA selection, set school records for single-season (.436) and career (.364) hit percentage.
"She had a great year to finish out her career here," Palileo said. "She's going to go through a learning curve at first, but I think she'll be fine."
The Lakewood, Calif., native led the team in kills in 2016 (337) and 2017 (348), and her .436 attack percentage in her senior season ranked sixth in the nation. Chamberlain finished her career with the second-most block assists (302) and fourth-most total blocks (372) in program history.
Chamberlain was a vital piece of the 2017 team that finished with a program-best record of 29-4, advanced to the C-USA Championship and reached the second round of the National Invitational Volleyball Championship.
"It means a lot to me," Chamberlain said. "I've been excited to go pro ever since I saw Carnae go do it, and found that I had an opportunity to do it too."
Chamberlain will report to Lima, the home of her new club, on Sept. 2 and the season is set to begin in early December. The regular season will run until mid-April and playoffs will take place the final two weeks of April.
"I'm excited that it's going to be summertime down there and I get to be by the beach," Chamberlain said. "I get to see new things and experience a different culture."
She is the third player from North Texas head coach Andrew Palileo's tenure to sign a professional contract, following outside hitters Carnae Dillard and Courtney Windham.
"Amanda worked really hard to get herself in a position to have this opportunity," Palileo said. "It's a good opportunity for her to showcase her talents, and I'm looking forward to following her."
Dillard played one season with Engelholms Volleybollsällskap and was named Player of the Year in the Elitserien League, and Windham played for Straubing Volleyball Team in Germany.
"[Carnae] gave me a lot of insight on what to look for and what overseas life is really like," Chamberlain said.
Chamberlain left the Mean Green as the only student-athlete to twice be named AVCA All-Region and rack up 1,000 kills and 370 blocks. A two-time First Team All-Conference USA selection, set school records for single-season (.436) and career (.364) hit percentage.
"She had a great year to finish out her career here," Palileo said. "She's going to go through a learning curve at first, but I think she'll be fine."
The Lakewood, Calif., native led the team in kills in 2016 (337) and 2017 (348), and her .436 attack percentage in her senior season ranked sixth in the nation. Chamberlain finished her career with the second-most block assists (302) and fourth-most total blocks (372) in program history.
Chamberlain was a vital piece of the 2017 team that finished with a program-best record of 29-4, advanced to the C-USA Championship and reached the second round of the National Invitational Volleyball Championship.
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