Maret Balkestein-Grothues, née Maret Grothues (Dutch pronunciation: [maˈrɛt ˈbɑlkəstɛin ˌɣrɔtˈhys], born 16 September 1988) is a Dutch volleyball player who plays as a wing spiker. She is a member of the Netherlands women's national volleyball team, and is the current team captain.[1] On 6 May 2021 she signed for the Greek powerhouse Panathinaikos.
Maret Grothues | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Personal information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Nationality | Dutch | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Born | Almelo, Netherlands | 16 September 1988||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Height | 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Weight | 68 kg (150 lb) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Spike | 304 cm (120 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Block | 286 cm (113 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Volleyball information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Position | Wing spiker | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Current club | Panathinaikos | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Number | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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National team | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Honours
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Grothues started playing volleyball with the Dutch club Krekkers in 1996, inspired by the male national team winning the Olympic gold in Atlanta 1996.[2] 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.[3] Thus she only returned for the knockout rounds, seeing limited minutes as the Netherlands finished fourth.[4]
Awards
editIndividuals
editClubs
edit- 2008–09 Dutch Volleyball League Champion, with DELA/Martinus Amstelveen
- 2008–09 Dutch Volleyball Cup Winner, with DELA/Martinus Amstelveen
- 2009–10 Dutch Volleyball League Champion, with TVC Amstelveen
- 2009–10 Dutch Volleyball Cup Winner, with TVC Amstelveen
- 2013–14 French Volleyball League Champion, with RC Cannes
- 2013–14 French Volleyball Cup Winner, with RC Cannes
- 2014–15 French Volleyball League Champion, with RC Cannes
- 2016–17 Turkish Volleyball League Champion, with Fenerbahçe
- 2016–17 Turkish Volleyball Cup Winner, with Fenerbahçe
- 2021–22 Greek Volleyball League Champion, with Panathinaikos
- 2021–22 Greek Volleyball Cup Winner, with Panathinaikos
- 2022–23 Greek Volleyball League Champion, with Panathinaikos[6][7]
- 2023–24 Greek Volleyball League Champion, with Panathinaikos
Personal
editMaret Grothues married the Dutch hockey player Marcel Balkestein on 5 July 2014 and became Maret Balkestein-Grothues, following Dutch convention.[8]
References
edit- ^ a b FIVB Profile
- ^ Stars of Rio: Maret Grothues-Balkestein
- ^ Balkestein-Grothues
- ^ "China houdt volleybalsters uit finale".
- ^ s.a, sunTech (13 May 2022). "Η Μάρετ Γκρόθες KYANA MVP του πρωταθλήματος της Volley League Γυναικών". www.volleyball.gr. Retrieved 7 May 2023.
- ^ s.a, sunTech (5 June 2023). "Volley League γυναικών: Πρωταθλητής ο Παναθηναϊκός". www.volleyball.gr. Retrieved 6 May 2023.
- ^ Bureau, Athens (7 May 2023). "Panathinaikos Defeats Olympiacos 3-2 And Are Women's Volleyball League Champions Once Again". Retrieved 7 May 2023.
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has generic name (help) - ^ The constant competition within the Balkestein-Grothues family…