Volleyball players around Europe are spending this week trying to impress coaches as schools prepare to form their strongest teams for the DODDS-Europe season.

Saturday’s season-opening schedule features 22 teams in action at eight sites across Germany, the United Kingdom, Italy and Netherlands. It’s the first of seven regular-season Saturdays leading up to the European championships starting Oct. 31 at Kaiserslautern Military Community, where three divisional European champions will be crowned.

Here’s a look at how some of the 2013 DODDS-Europe volleyball contenders have been preparing for the season.

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