Laura has - at least according to herself - played a good season so far in Turkish League...maybe Turkish users could tell more about it.
I'd love to see Tess von Piekartz getting a chance in NT this year, she's doing very well in Münster this season and she's certainly less boring than many setters around. But with her 1.70 she probably has no chance against all that Dutch 1.80+ setters 
But Fledderus wasn't tall either, so maybe there's some hope for Tess...
Thanks both of you for the great information. I don't really follow the Turkish domestic league and in CL Lo bianco always plays starter for GS so I haven't seen her.
Glad to hear that Femke has showed a better performance. I still remember that she got extremely nervous and then couldn't simply pass any good balls to her attackers at ECH against Germany and Croatia in the tie break 
Hopefully she learnt something from those bad experiences. Grothues, Buijs and both MBs (de Kruijf and Stenbergen) will play alright, so it's all up to Femke and Manon or Judith. But to be honest I don't expect anything from Pietersen...she's horrible as OPP.
I forgot to add Belgium. I personally like Frauke Dirickx's performance every time I see her. she's creative and sometimes so insane her back up setter Van de Vyver is also alright I guess.
Gamze in NT ? 
Btw, good luck to Dutch girls 
I hope, they can qualify to WCH 2014.
I'd love to see Tess von Piekartz getting a chance in NT this year, she's doing very well in Münster this season and she's certainly less boring than many setters around. But with her 1.70 she probably has no chance against all that Dutch 1.80+ setters
Agree, Fleederus wasn't tall either, but the game has developed even more to 'high and hard' ..at least in Vermeulen's opinion. I presume he prefers good-blocking setters.
Agree, Fleederus wasn't tall either, but the game has developed even more to 'high and hard' ..at least in Vermeulen's opinion. I presume he prefers good-blocking setters.
I agree. Staelens, Dijkema, Stoltenborg they are all good blockers...
@ Emil
In my opinion Judith should stay on bench during the tournament. For hitting, I prefer Celeste Plak
@ Burak
GS-connection, for sure....Barbolini <--> Gamze
Ozge or Asuman are much better.
I agree. Staelens, Dijkema, Stoltenborg they are all good blockers...
I notice some irony in your post 
At least in my opinion, Kim Staelens and Femke are good blockers. Laura not at all !
I notice some irony in your post
At least in my opinion, Kim Staelens and Femke are good blockers. Laura not at all !
Tess is also a quite good blocker, at least considering her height. And sometimes this season she has shown a special talent to make block points in important situations, for example for winning a set 32:20 or so
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Quoted from "Emil"
Quoted from "flyingdutchman"
Agree, Fleederus wasn't tall either, but the game has developed even more to 'high and hard' ..at least in Vermeulen's opinion. I presume he prefers good-blocking setters.
I agree. Staelens, Dijkema, Stoltenborg they are all good blockers...
I notice some irony in your post
At least in my opinion, Kim Staelens and Femke are good blockers. Laura not at all !
No? I've always thought she was a good blocker 
otherwise there's no specific reason why letting her as starting setter since she's not a really good setter
Ironic is my life style
about Laura
She looks better and fit this season than last 2 years when we compare her performance and I think her performance is stable in Turkish League but Halkbank needs better reception and spikers, I don't think Nikolova is enough.
Tess is also a quite good blocker, at least considering her height. And sometimes this season she has shown a special talent to make block points in important situations, for example for winning a set 32:20 or so
@ Matthias
For me it is ok to let Tess replace Laura
Combination Femke - Tess
All I know with Laura is that she wants to play in the Istanbul next season
All I know with Laura is that she wants to play in the Istanbul next season
I can imagine...in Istanbul are the most, best and biggest shoppingmalls 
Kanyon etc.
I think she is already bored in Ankara
Sander, I love your jokes 
Sarcasm and Ironic are motors for Swedes btw Let's keep our fingers for Laura though...
Sander, I love your jokes
For safety reasons, I decided to delete my post about her 'other' qualities
The post about her wish to play in Istanbul is 100% true, though
I can imagine...in Istanbul are the most, best and biggest shoppingmalls
I think she is already bored in Ankara
Absolutely !
For safety reasons, I decided to delete my post about her 'other' qualities
The post about her wish to play in Istanbul is 100% true, though
For a shopping queen Istanbul must be fascinating... following her twitter has become one of the things I do when I really have nothing to do
Anyway, Goed geluk, meisjes!!!
Sorry for 
Back on topic:
Which countries will win their pools ???
My predictions:
Pool A: Turkey
Pool B: Serbia
Pool C: Poland
Pool D: Croatia 
Pool E: Bulgaria
Sorry for
Back on topic:
Which countries will win their pools ???
My guess: Turkey, Serbia, Belgium, Netherlands, Bulgaria.
I know that most people here are convinced that Poland will beat Belgium, but I'm not. Belgium has shown very good Volleyball last summer, based on very good teamplay. Surely Poland has the bigger stars, but all of them are rather old and in my opinion past their prime (except Skowronska who is doing great in Rabita). Of course they're still all very good, but I have a feeling that Belgium can and will beat them. But I hope that Poland and Croatia will qualify as best 2nd ranked teams, or maybe CZE instead of one of them...but they're missing so many players that it will be hard.
My guess: Turkey, Serbia, Belgium, Netherlands, Bulgaria.
I know that most people here are convinced that Poland will beat Belgium, but I'm not. Belgium has shown very good Volleyball last summer, based on very good teamplay. Surely Poland has the bigger stars, but all of them are rather old and in my opinion past their prime (except Skowronska who is doing great in Rabita). Of course they're still all very good, but I have a feeling that Belgium can and will beat them. But I hope that Poland and Croatia will qualify as best 2nd ranked teams, or maybe CZE instead of one of them...but they're missing so many players that it will be hard.
Of course I hope your prediction will come true (I predict Poland and Croatia)