EuroVolleyW 2023: The Netherlands to stay among the top teams
Team analysis
With the right mix of experienced players and young prospects and with a brand new head coach, in EuroVolley 2023 The Netherlands can be able to repeat the performance which brought them to the top four teams in last EuroVolley 2021
The Netherlands have an historical tradition among the top volleyball national teams in Europe for both women and men.
The ladies won the European Championship in 1995 when they hosted the tournament, and have been runners-up on four occasions: 1991, 2009, 2015 and 2017, while they finished third in 1985.
In EuroVolley 2015 The Netherlands were protagonists of an outstanding performance in the tournament, reaching the final on the home turf in Rotterdam at Ahoy Arena but losing 0-3 versus Russia, stepping up on the second step of the podium after a very well played championship.
In last European Championship 2021 in Serbia the Dutches had a great performance, reaching the Semifinal after stunning Germany in Eight Finals and Sweden in Quarter Finals, defeated 1-3 by Italy in Belgrade in the Semis, with Davide Mazzanti’s team who later lifted the trophy stunning home team Serbia in the final. The Netherlands lost also the 3rd Place Final, a clear 0-3 versus Türkiye, finishing the tournament in fourth place.
In Volleyball Nations League 2023 last July, last international tournament before EuroVolley 2023, The Netherlands missed the final stage, missing out the Top 8 and concluding in 12th place in the final standings, with 5 wins and 7 losses.
The upcoming EuroVolley 2023 will see The Netherlands in Pool D, making their debut in the tournament on 17th August at Unibet Arena in Tallinn versus Spain, then facing Slovakia, the home team Estonia, France and Finland. Despite the absence of veteran spiker Anne Buijs, who took one year off from national team in 2023, The Netherlands are one of the top teams of the Pool, in order to reach at least Eight Finals, looking forward to Quarter Finals and maybe more.
As we said in last Volleyball Nations League The Netherlands finished in 12th place. German head coach Felix Koslowski, in charge since January 2023, after the experiences with German national team and Schweriner SC, tried a lot of solutions on court, changing the starting line-up almost in every game, searching for the perfect setup on court looking forward the upcoming EuroVolley 2023.
A big part of their offensive production comes from powerful 27-year-old opposite Celeste Plak, strong arm of the Orange national team since 2012, a real veteran despite the age, and from the young hammers Nova Marring (22) and Jolien Knollema (20), two players with impressive performances in July’s VNL, scoring 121 points each in the 12 games, without forgetting captain Nika Daalderop (24), a real landmark for The Netherlands.
Head coach Felix Koslowski can also count on 22-year-old middle blocker Indy Baijens, top scorer for The Netherlands at last VNL with 134 points, together with Juliet Lohuis (27) and Eline Timmerman (24).
23-year-old setter Sarah Van Aalen will challenge with Britt Bongaerts (26) for a starting lineup spot looking out for continuity, with veteran setter Laura Dijkema ready to step on the court, while the liberos, 25-year-old Florien Reesink and veteran Kirsten Knip (31), will take care of the defense in back row.
The Netherlands have potential, talent, and the perfect mix of maturity, patience and practice mingled with the impetuosity of youth. That “je ne sais quoi” that allows for inventiveness married with stability.
In the upcoming EuroVolley 2023 they can be able to repeat the performance which brought them to the top four teams in last EuroVolley 2021 in Serbia.