Volleyball player Britt Bongaerts from Beegden has left the training camp of the Dutch team in Arnhem with flu symptoms. The game distributor was therefore missing at the press conference in the run-up to the start of the Nations League.
The Orange squad will play its first game in the major international volleyball competition next Wednesday. In Ankara, China is the first opponent.
Not serious
Britt Bongaerts is an important pawn in the young team of national coach Avital Selinger. The 25-year-old player of the Italian Perugia, together with the experienced Laura Dijkema, is the playmaker of the team. Selinger expects Bongaerts to travel to Turkey on Sunday. “She has a fever and is not well, but it is not very serious. I expect that she will be able to rejoin the group soon.” The Dutch team flies to Turkey on Sunday.
Nations League
The Dutch team is preparing for the Nations League, which will be played in Turkey, Brazil and Canada in June and July. Last week, the Orange squad already played two exhibition games against France, which ended with one win and one loss. On Wednesday and Thursday, the selection will play two more friendly matches against Belgium. In the first week of the Nations League, the Orange immediately meets a number of strong opponents, including China, Italy and Serbia.
World Cup
National coach Selinger sees this tough program as the ideal preparation for the World Cup in September, which will be organized in his own country. The women start in Gelredome in Arnhem against the African countries Kenya and Cameroon, and will play their third game against Puerto Rico. This is followed by the duels against Belgium and Italy.