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The Next Big Thing in Volleyball: Elles Dambrink

Feature

Article Sun, Dec 5 2021
Author: Victoria Georgieva

“Remember the name” is a popular song that inspire many athletes during practices and matches, but in this case the expression can be definitely used for the raising star of Dutch Volleyball - Elles Dambrink. The 18-year-old opposite had a memorable summer with the senior national team, making her debut at VNL and then being called up for #EuroVolleyW. With the Women’s U20 at the World Championship that took place in the Netherlands and in Belgium, Elles and her teammates grabbed the fourth place in the world - playing a pivotal role for her team’s good performance, finishing as second top scorer with 149 points to her name. 

Now preparing with Team22 for the upcoming in 2022 Women’s World Championship, Dambrink  might very well be the Next Big Thing in Volleyball.

Dambrink in action during the #EuroVolleyW semifinal against Italy

The beginning

Even though Elles is so young, she has been practicing the sport for more than 13 years. 

“I started playing at the age of five, playing in the youth teams for the club Voleco at my hometown Ouderkerk aan den IJssel. It wasn’t allowed that one takes up on the sport before the age of six, but my parents knew the coach and convinced her to let me play.”

Volleyball runs through the veins of Elles’ family - her mother used to play at the same club, and it was precisely her idea to bring her daughter to the club, and give it a try. Luckily to the Dutch Volleyball fans, the young Elles liked the sport.

Going pro

Being  professional in the full meaning of the word is a quite new experience for Elles.

“To be honest, this is my first season when all my focus is completely on the sport. Before that, I always had school between and with clubs in previous seasons we did not train every day. But from this summer on, my life has been all about Volleyball.”

Project 22 

Elles is now enjoying to the fullest the experience at Team 22. Previously called Project 22, this is a Dutch team, set up in light of the upcoming Women’s World Championship in 2022, that the Netherlands will host together with Poland. Young and talented players train with more experienced players, while the main goal is to deliver great Volleyball next year for the tournament.

“I really look forward to the World Championship. We are training every day at Papendal together, and we are making some kind of sprint in our development towards the Championship. I hope that this preparation will help us to perform as good as possible at the Worlds.”

Elles Dambrink
Player of The Netherlands

Elles made quite the impression during the 2021 summer, receiving a call-up for VNL. And while all were expecting her to be just a substitute, she was a main protagonist for her team on the court. The 187 cm tall opposite received also a chance to play at #EuroVolleyW. 

“Nobody expected me to be in the starting lineup for the VNL. It was supposed to be my first “look around” at a big international tournament, to feel how is it like. But by “throwing me into the deep”, with a team that took care of me very well, I could play very freely.This is what made this tournament a great way of experiencing my first international matches. I believe that I improved mostly in the power and in exploring new ways of using all kinds of different options in the game.”

Elles played also an important role for the U20 team, at the FIVB World Championship in this age category.  

“It was great to play it at Rotterdam Topsport. I am proud of the victories and the success we achieved, but I would have loved for the team to have finished with a medal after such a great tournament. Overall, it was an absolutely fun tournament with my peers and I think we have learned a lot by reaching the semifinal match.”

Elles Dambrink
Player of The Netherlands
Damrbinkg during the FIVB U20 Women's World Championship; Photo credit: Volleyball World

Elles’ trump card 

Back in her native country, some call her “the left-handed future of Dutch Volleyball”. Does Elles believe that this could give her a special power on the court?

“Some people do see it as some kind of attribute,” Elles smiles. “It's different blocking against a left-hander, so some opponents need to adjust to this. But in general, I don’t believe that at this level, it's a kind of special power. All international teams deliver such a high level that they can adapt to it.”

Elles Dambrink
Player of The Netherlands

Outside the court

Outside the court, Elles likes to think about different things once the training day is over. 

“I am part-time studying Economics and Business Economics at Radboud University Nijmegen. When possible, I like going home to my village during the weekends and hang out with my friends and family as much as possible. I watch Netflix with my teammate Britte, and I am also trying to get my driver license, so I can stop taking the bus!”

#EuropeanVolleyball