Macomb, IL. — The Western Illinois University volleyball team has announced the launch of its "Western Illinois University Volleyball International Tour Raffle," a fundraising initiative designed to support the program's international trip to Brazil in spring of 2027.

Community members, alumni, and supporters are invited to participate by purchasing raffle tickets beginning May 1 through December 17 at 11:55 p.m. CT. Proceeds from the raffle will directly benefit the student-athletes as they prepare for a valuable international competition and cultural experience.

"I'm really excited to have the opportunity to take our team to my home country, Brazil, share part of our culture, and compete against some great teams in Rio." Said Head Volleyball Coach Mari Silva. "This trip is an important step in the growth of our program, and we're grateful for the support from our community in helping make it possible. It also gives us a chance to stay connected and  build strong relationships with those around us. It means a lot that we're able to do this over Spring Break so we can bring our seniors along, who have given so much to the program over the past four years."

Ticket Information
Raffle tickets may be purchased at the WIU Office of Intercollegiate Athletics, located in Western Hall 103A in Macomb, or online by clicking here. Tickets can be purchased more than once.  Pricing options are as follows:

• 1 ticket for $15

• 4 tickets for $50

• 10 tickets for $100

• 20 tickets for $150

Participants must be 18 years of age or older to enter.

Drawing and Prize Notification
Winners will be selected through a random drawing on December 18 at the WIU Office of Intercollegiate Athletics. Participants do not need to be present to win. Winners will be notified by phone or email and must claim their prize by December 30. Odds of winning depend on the total number of entries received. Click here to learn more about the Bahamas trip details. 

For questions about the raffle and Bahamas trip please contact WIU's Head Volleyball Coach Mari Silva at m-depaulasilva@wiu.edu.

FOLLOW THE LEATHERNECKS

For all the latest information on the Leatherneck Volleyball team, please visit GoLeathernecks.com. For up-to-the-minute updates, follow the Leathernecks on X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, and Facebook.