Sobolska is on course to make her Belgium debut in Montreux
Brussels, Belgium, May 31, 2016 – Domenika Sobolska is in line to make her debut for the Belgium team at the Montreux Volley Masters tournament that runs from May 31 to June 5.
Belgium coach Gert Vande Broek has included Sobolska as one of a group of new faces in his squad after the likes of Helene Rousseaux and Angie Bland were forced to miss the tournament through injury so as to be ready for the FIVB Volleyball World Grand Prix that begins on June 9.
Sobolska is joined by Kaja Grobelna and Dominica Strumilo, who will also push to make their Belgium debuts during the tournament. Belgium begin against Turkey on May 31, then face China on June 2 and Brazil on June 3.
“A situation may arise in which we play five games in six days and Rousseaux is slightly injured, so we decided to give her a little rest before the World Grand Prix.,” Vande Broek said. “Angie needs a little more time to recover and, if necessary, will join the squad for the September qualifiers for the European Championships.
“Our goal is to remain in the first 15 in the ranking (currently Belgium are 15th), but also check on several new players and in Montreux we will have the chance to see young players as Britt Herbots, Celine Van Gestel and Amber Tant in action.”
The Montreux Volley Masters features two pools of four teams. Belgium are paired with Turkey, China and Brazil, while Pool B is made up of the Netherlands, Serbia, Thailand and hosts Switzerland.
Once Belgium are finished in Montreux they will turn their attentions to the World Grand Prix. They will compete in Group 1 and begin against Turkey on June 10 in Kaliningrad in Russia.
“This tournament is the most prestigious of the unofficial event on the calendar, so it is an honour for me that I can take part in it as a coach,” Vande Broek said. “We want to prove that we deserve the invitation to this elite group.”
Belgium squad:
Jasmiene Biebauw, Ilka Van de Vyver, Lise van Hecke, Kaja Grobelna, Charlotte Leys, Celine Van Gestel, Britt Herbots, Dominica Strumilo. Laura Heyrman, Freya Aelbrecht, Dominica Sobolska, Valerie Courtois, Britt Ruysschaert, Amber de Tant