With game distributor Sam Gortzak, a chunk of experience returns to the old nest at volleyball team Samen Lycurgus in Groningen.
“It feels like coming home,” says the 28-year-old, who has always kept Groningen as home base. “My girlfriend Malou (physiotherapist Alferink, ed.) and I have a nice house in Groningen. In addition, I would like to continue playing volleyball at the highest possible level. Why shouldn’t I do that in the city where I feel at home.”
Gortzak moved to Belgium two years ago after six seasons at Lycurgus, where he started playing at Tectum Achel. With that club he has finished in the bottom of the middle bracket for the past two seasons. “The level was higher than I expected. Really better than in the Netherlands”, says the volleyball player. ,,The game revolved around the playmaker. I was expected to dictate the pace of the game and not just look for the outside.”
Not everyone had the full focus on volleyball
But he also has points of criticism in his Belgian adventure. ,,By not playing for the prizes, you sacrifice professionalism. Not everyone had the full focus on volleyball. But the nice thing about that was that we managed to perform as well as possible during the matches together.”
Head coach Arjan Taaij is happy with Gortzak’s return. ,,We are very happy with Sam back at the old nest. With him, not only a very nice person, but also an excellent volleyball player add to the team. He can give direction to the young players in the program with his knowledge and experience.” Lycurgus was really looking for a new playmaker, after the previous two left after the previous season. For example, first game distributor Markus Held went to Caruur Volley Gent in Belgium, while Tieme de Jong, looking for more playing time, signed with SSS in Barneveld.
I am present on the field
With Gortzak, the position of playmaker for the new premier league season is now half filled. In his first season at Tectum Achel, the born North Hollander sometimes sat on the bench during matches, but in the past year he became more and more a permanent member of the Belgian team. ,,I don’t know if I’ve gotten better in volleyball, but as a person I’m definitely more mature now. I’m on the field.”
Gortzak still wants to get the best out of himself and the team as a player. “That remains at the top. I am now shifting my focus a little more towards a social career after playing volleyball. That can be combined well next season. I continue to feel at home in an environment where I can continue to get the most out of it.”
Sam Gortzak won ten prizes with Lycurgus
In the six seasons that Gortzak previously played for Lycurgus, he won ten prizes with the Groningen team: the national championship in 2016, 2017 and 2018, the national cup in 2016 and 2020 and the Supercups in 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2020.
With the arrival of game distributor Sam Gortzak, the selection for next season now has eight players. The others are diagonal Thomas Sleurink, the passer-runners Kyle McCauley, Maarten Bartels and Guus Boer, the middlemen Luuk Hofhuis and Robin Boekhoudt and libero Jeffrey Klok.