Volleyball player Dijkema returns to Italy after leaving Russia

Volleyball player Laura Dijkema is back to work in Italy. The 32-year-old game distributor of Orange left her Russian club Leningradka from Saint Petersburg at the beginning of this month because of the invasion of Russian soldiers in Ukraine. Dijkema returned to the Netherlands after a long journey and has now found shelter for the rest of the season at the Italian volleyball club Busto Arsizio.

The team from Northern Italy urgently needed a new playmaker due to injuries within the selection. Busto Arsizio, which is in fifth place in the Italian league, found it in Dijkema. The Drentse previously played in Italy for several years, with Novara and Florence, and in Turkey and Germany.

Dijkema became champion of Russia for the first time last year with Kaliningrad. The Dutch international then moved to Leningradka. Once that club has officially released her, she will be able to play volleyball for Busto Arsizio.