Khalia Lanier hasn’t reported to school yet.

But she’s not in trouble. Lanier’s got a good excuse for missing the first days of her senior year at Xavier.

The volleyball force is getting her first taste of international volleyball as a member of the U.S. Girls’ Youth National Team. The team is competing in the Federation of International Volleyball U-18 World Championships in Lima, Peru.

The U.S. is currently 2-1 in pool play of the 20-team tournament. Despite its Monday five-set loss to European champ Russia, the U.S. already qualified for bracket play.

Lanier led the U.S. with 18 points during the match against Russia. The U.S. plays Belgium Tuesday in the final pool game for both teams.

Bracket play begins Thursday. The tournament ends Aug. 16, and Lanier is expected to return to class two days.  

Xavier’s volleyball team is ranked No. 8 nationally by maxpreps. 

“People of all ages came up to everyone on the (U.S.) team asking for pictures and autographs,” Lanier wrote in a blog that was posted on her team’s Tumblr page. “Despite the language barrier, volleyball was used to communicate.”

To follow the tournament, including Tuesday’s match for the U.S., go here.