PROVINCE OF UTRECHT – The young volleyball players of the Utrecht volleyball association Sphinx listen attentively to the two top beach volleyball players on the beach at the Maarsseveense Plassen. It is late afternoon, a bit chilly and the sand is still soaking wet from the last summer shower that passed.
The children of the association have listened to the call and showed up in large numbers. They are visibly interested in it. What they just didn’t know then, and neither did I, nobody did, is that one of those two friendly volleyball players would grow into a world-class player at breakneck speed. It’s been two years already, but it comes to mind when I read the messages this weekend about the first edition of the Elite 16 tournament in Mexico.
Suddenly a familiar face
Our own Robert Meeuwsen from Nieuwegein, whom I have been following for years from a distance and if possible also up close, made it to the final together with partner Alexander Brouwer. Unfortunately, they didn’t win.
The women were luckier. Unexpectedly, they made it to the final. And they won. And so the player whose youth from Utrecht received an unforgettable clinic not so long ago, Katja Stam, suddenly becomes a familiar face to everyone. A very fine performance. Only the best sixteen teams in the world participate in the tournament.
And although Katja may not come from our province, she may have planted some beach volleyball seeds on the beach with our youth. The pleasure and passion with which Katja shared tips and trucks with everyone while jumping and sprinting in the loose sand of Maarseveen. A special and valuable experience for the children. Don’t be surprised if we see one of them again later at the King of the Court. Seeing sports makes sports.
