Koslowski selects 28 players to start Dutch preparations

German head coach Felix Koslowski will start his work with the Netherlands’ women’s national team with 28 players as the country’s federation has announced the list of athletes selected for the 2023 international season.

The first players will start working on April 17, but many others and Koslowski himself, who are still involved with the club season in national leagues around the world, will join the group later.

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The coach’s plan is to reduce the group to 25 players ahead of their debut in the 2023 Volleyball Nations League, which will have the Dutch facing Germany, Brazil, the Dominican Republic and China in Nagoya, Japan, from May 30-June 4.

“Some of our top players are still involved with their club seasons and might be the last ones to join the team,” Koslowski commented. “We’ll look at each case and see who can start working immediately and who needs some time off. The team will need some time to get used to me and I’ll need some time to get used to the Dutch culture and to transfer my philosophy of work too. The first weeks of the VNL will be very important for that.”

Hired earlier this year to replace veteran Avital Selinger, who led the program in the last two seasons, Koslowski has called up 13 of the 14 players his predecessor selected for last year’s FIVB Volleyball Women’s World Championship, which had the Netherlands as one of the host countries and the team finishing 12th.

The only exception is outside hitter Anne Buijs, who captained the team last year and decided to take a break from international competition during the 2023 season after playing 321 international matches since her debut, in 2008.

“I have thought a lot after the World Championship and, although I obviously still consider it an honor to represent the Netherlands, I believe these last few years have been intense playing for my clubs and the national team,” she explained. “I felt that I needed to take a step back now and told Felix that I’m not available for this summer, but I’m certainly not closing the door to a return at some point in the future.”

Some of the most experienced players on the list are setter Laura Dijkema, opposite Celeste Plak, outside hitter Nika Daalderop, middle blocker Eline Timmerman and libero Myrthe Schoot.

Besides the VNL, the Dutch will also compete in the European Championship in August and in the Olympic Qualifying Tournament in September.

The Netherlands’ women’s national team full roster:

Setters: Britt Bongaerts, Fleur Meinders, Kim Klein Lankhorst, Laura Dijkema, Sarah van Aalen

Opposites: Celeste Plak, Elles Dambrink, Famke Boonstra, Iris Scholten, Nova Marring, Vera Mulder

Outside hitters: Fleur Savelkoel, Hester Jasper, Iris Vos, Jolien Knollema, Joljin de Haan, Marrit Jasper, Nika Daalderop

Middle blockers: Britte Stuut, Demi Korevaar, Eline Timmerman, Indy Baijens, Juliet Lohuis, Tessa Polder

Liberos: Florien Reesink, Kirsten Knip, Myrthe Schoot, Romy Brokking

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