Maret Balkestein-Grothues
| Maret Balkestein-Grothues | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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 Grothues at the 2013 world championships | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Personal information | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Full name | Maret Balkestein-Grothues | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Nationality | Netherlands | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Born |
September 16, 1988 Almelo, Netherlands | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in) | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 68 kg (150 lb) | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Spike | 304 cm (120 in) | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Block | 285 cm (112 in) | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Volleyball information | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Position | wing spiker | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Current club | Atom Trefl Sopot | |||||||||||||||||||||
Honours
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Maret Balkestein-Grothues, née Maret Grothues (Dutch pronunciation: [maˈrɛt ˈbɑlkəstɛin ˌɣrɔtˈhys], born 16 September 1988 in Almelo) is a Dutch volleyball player who plays as an wing spiker. She is a member of the Netherlands women's national volleyball team, and is the current team captain.[1] Since October 2015 she plays for the Polish team Atom Trefl Sopot.[2]
Grothues started playing volleyball with the Dutch club Krekkers in 1996, inspired by the male national team winning the Olympic gold in Atlanta 1996.[3] She made her international debut in the Dutch national team at the opening match of the Montreux Volley Masters against Cuba in June 2008. Grothues did not play in the national team in 2014, due to an Achilles heel injury. At the 2010 World Championship she won the "best server" trophy. She played at the European Championships in 2012, 2013 and 2014. In 2015 she was promoted to team captain prior to the 2015 European Games in Baku, Azerbaijan. As of 2016 she has 244 caps.[1]
During the 2016 Summer Olympics, where the Dutch women made their Olympic return after 20 years, Balkestein-Grothues injured her ankle during the second game of the group stage.[4] Thus she only returned for the knockout rounds, seeing limited minutes as the Netherlands finished fourth.[5]
Clubs
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Krekkers (1996–2004) - VV Pollux (2004–2006)
- Longa '59 Lichtenvoorde (2006–2008)
- TVC Amstelveen (2009–2011)
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Parma Volley (2011–2012) - Cuatto Giaveno Volley (2012–2012)
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Lokomotiv Baku (2012–2013) -
RC Cannes (2013–2015) -
Atom Trefl Sopot (2015–2016)
Awards
Individuals
Personal
Maret Grothues married the Dutch hockey player Marcel Balkestein on 5 July 2014 and became Maret Balkestein-Grothues, following Dutch convention.[6]
References
- 1 2 FIVB Profile
- ↑ Balkestein brings new orange energy to PGE Atom Trefl, PGE Atom Trefl Sopot, 18 October 2015
- ↑ Stars of Rio: Maret Grothues-Balkestein
- ↑ Balkestein-Grothues
- ↑
- ↑ The constant competition within the Balkestein-Grothues family…
External links
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