About Dutch team:
I'm quite satisfied so far, BUT Dijkema should use the middles much more !! Against good blocking teams like Poland her game is much too predictable!
About Dutch team:
I'm quite satisfied so far, BUT Dijkema should use the middles much more !! Against good blocking teams like Poland her game is much too predictable!
I really liked Bulgarian libera (Todorova?) and Milanova (only 18 years old...wow) and also G. Dimitrova #1 .
They are great prospects for the fututre!
Where were Hruseva and Rabadhzieva?
No there is no further information. Indeed those two names are named and some Dutch coaches, as Alberda, Selinger, Blangé who only would be the head coach during qualification tournament.
I just wrote in DUtch NT-thread: the level-difference between Santarelli <--> Akbas is so huge, it must be a mistake both are a candidate...
I really hope World of Volley is partly wrong and actually it is likely.
The difference between Santarelli and Akbas is simply huge.
Santarelli would be like winning the lottery. ALmost all Italians are great coaches (except a few: Chiappini, Micelli, Barbolini) and among the younger generation Santarelli might be the best.
When I think about Akbas'' famous moments, I only remember a cameraman zooming in all the time
Being a former assistant of Guidetti is no guarantee for becoming a worldclass-headcoach...Morrisson is another example.
If Dutch Federation really considers offering a contract to Akbas, than goodnight and goodbye to Dutch NT
I'm very curious for the stats of NED-CRO...
This match will go into history-books probably...Fabris served almost 100% wrong...
Even more curious for Crovolley's explanation....
UN-BE-LIE-VA-BLE.....
No surprises in Dutch roster for Catania:
S: Dijkema, Bongaerts
Opp: Sloetjes, Plak
OH: Buijs, Balkestein-Grothues, Daalderop, Jasper
MB: De Kruijf, Beliën, Lohuis, Koolhaas
L: Schoot, Knip
Dutch team needs a miracle to beat Italy, in my opinion. Italy has currently the potentially deepest/best roster worldwide (maybe together with China). Even winning only one set against them will be already really hard, also because of the home-advantage of Italy.
But, Dutch team has a good chance to qualify for OG in January-tournament I'm quite confident they will !
NOR OH Emilie Olimstad to Ladies in Black Aachen
Aachen will have a 12-roster. At this moment there are 11 players. One OH is still missing in the roster.
My 2 Cents: it will be Jana Franziska Poll
Morisson picked 18 players for OGQT-preparations:
Setter: Bongaerts, Dijkema, Stoltenborg
Opposite: Sloetjes, Plak
Outside-hitter: Daalderop, Buijs, Grothues, Jasper, Oude Luttikhuis
Middle-blocker: Beliën, De Kruijf, Timmerman, Lohuis, Polder, Koolhaas
Libero: Knip, Schoot.
My guess: Stoltenborg, Oude Luttikhuis, Polder and Timmerman will be cut.
Yes today Buijs was bad, but last week she was the best player actually. Still Daalderop is the better option IMHO, both in attack as in reception.
Buijs is almost always hesitating against physical strong team...she needs to dare hitting instead of tipping or soft shots... I prefer Nika.
Today was comedy-capers in many moments unfortunately. Bongaerts had many connection-problems, especially with Plak at zone 4 and Koolhaas at zone 2. Nevertheless, I think she is overall a better setter than Laura. She plays faster, more versatile, is a better blocker and server. She just lacks experience.
What worries me the most is NIka's health. Why she didn't enter court today, even for a few points?? Hopefully she will play tomorrow, stating she is not injured again.
About libera's : unfortunately there is no better one as Schoot and Knip.
P.S. I really like Drews as a player, but please STOP chewing bubblegum during the match...it is so annoying to see it all the time..
I think Morrison is a good coach with a lot of knowledge. But during matches I don't like him as a coach. He always sticks to his plan and he can't change it
VNL is not important this summer, like even ECH. The fact Dijkema played almost full match (especially set 3-5) shows Jamie wants to give her a chance during a full match agianst a good opponent. I'm convinced Britt will get the opportunity tomorrow or against Germany. Also Plak and Jasper at OH-position and Koolhaas-Lohuis duo is all in context of trying out things.
100% this will not happen at OGQT in Catania.
P.S. Don't forget for some players it is their first match after a few weeks rest. You can't expect a good shape immediately.
And Belfgium is a decent team!
Sarah van Aalen is rumoured to play for USC Münster next season.
Annick Meijers will play in Italy next season. She confirmed it in a Dutch paper.
Her club is not mentioned unfortunately.
Morrison is in NL training with the girls that did not travel to HK.
Indeed. He arrived yesterday from the USA. He is now with the main players at Papendal Training Centre. Preparing for Week 4 and 5.
Sorry but I don't believe everything he says
Knowing that every player has 10 days vacation and has to train 10 days in the gym before they are going to play matches, it's highly unlikely that Plak, de Kruijf and Balkestein-Grothues will join the team next week.
It seems you are right (and the Ziggo Sport guy isn't )..some instagram-posts show Baijens, Meijers, van Aalen, Polder are on the plane to Hong Kong
So, the main players will show up for the first time in Stuttgart.
As I already wrote in VNL-thread..according to Ziggo-sport commentator, the main players will be in Hong Kong...we will see..
Maret Balkestein-Grothues confirmed her transfer to Aydin today on instagram.
There were rumours about Geerties to Bergamo...Monza has already 4 confirmed OHs, right?
I have mixed feelings about the match today.
About Poland: impressive height and power. First time I saw Stysiak playing, she is a huge prospect. Considering Wolosz was not there, this Polish team has a very bright future !!
About Dutch team: I think it is good to understand players like Bayens, Timmerman and Meijers only played in Dutch League (very weak level), so the gap to international level is huge for them. Furthermore: until two weeks ago, Bayens only played as a MB. Oude Luttikhuis plays much better than she did in Aachen last seasons, the same for Jasper.
These players have played the previous two weeks during parts of games above their usual level, but at some parts they played their normal level or even below..like today in 1st set, end of 3rd set and start of 4th set.
Daalderop and Lohuis played on a decent level, as expected.
In general: there is certainly potential, but the new girls will need a few years to adapt to international level.
According to the Dutch TV-host next week in Hong Kong the main players will be in the roster (Sloetjes, Buijs, Plak, Beliën, De Kruijf, Grothues..)
Knip is the only change that is made by Morrison
At least I expected Beliën to be in the roster, because she finished club season a while ago and already was training with the group. With this roster they have no chance against Brazil and probably neither against Poland. I think it's not fair for the supporters. He could at least have said it earlier that he isn't going to play with the best roster.
In my opinion, Morisson took the right decision. The summer season will be really long..and there are only two really important tournaments: OGQT in Catania and World Cup in Japan.
VNL is not important this summer. I think the main players will only play in 4th week (Stuttgart) and 5th week (Russia)
Celeste Plak will play for Aydin next season (she confirmed at her instagram-account).