Hey guys, things have been going well since my last blog. We competed in our second round of the CEV cup against a Belarusian club ‘ Stoitel Minsk’ our first match was at home, then the week after in mid December we traveled to white Russia to play for our chance to proceed to the next round. Unfortunately we didn’t get the result we needed to progress but I was keen to get back to Zwolle because I knew my girlfriend Georgie would be there! After not seeing her since id left home it was so great so pull up to my apartment in the car and see her in the window waving me up. Georgie’s arrival came at a good time too. The club gave us all about a week off over Christmas so Georgie and I had organized to go to Paris over Christmas. We got there on the 23rd after a big day of travel and stayed till the 26th. It was absolutely fantastic, we spent everyday catching the metro into Paris Nord just outside the ‘Hotel de ville’ and walking around into the night from there. Christmas day in Paris was my favorite, we walked through the latin Quarter to the Louvre, down an busy Champs-Elyśees to the Arch de triomphe and finished at a night market under the Eiffel tower, it was absolutely amazing.
When we got back it was straight back to the grind. That was up until I started feeling a pain in my lower abdominal. After not being able to play for a while I was booked in for scans. Unfortunately the scans showed up a 1cm by 1cm tear in my Rectus Abdominal even though it wasn’t a large tear in terms of how big tears can be, it was in an awkward place to heal and I was ruled out for 7 weeks. Abdominal tears have a notorious history for reoccurring so it’s really important not to be tempted to return earlier then what the doctor suggests. I found the 7 weeks hard not being able to play but was glad Georgie was still here, it meant we had a bit more time together and were able to go on day trips to Amsterdam, Rotterdam and just explore Zwolle a bit more which was fantastic. On February the 3rd it was time to say goodbye to Georgie. We got up early and caught the train to Schiphol airport in Amsterdam both not saying much on the way in as if trying to hide the fact that she was leaving. It was sad seeing her go through the gates but I was so thankful that she did come over and that we got to do and see some very cool things in Europe.
While Id been injured the team have been playing well, we won the national Bekker tournament (a tournament held between the division one and two clubs in Holland) and we qualified for the finals series sitting clear on top of the ladder. At the moment we are coming towards the tail end of the finals series and as of just last night we have locked in our spot in the Championship play offs! The remaining matches will determine whom we will meet. Being able to come out over 10 points clear on top of the ladder with a hefty list of injuries we are feeling confident in our chances to go back to back as players including myself are slowly returned to the playing list.
Very exciting times are to be had for myself and Landstede volleyball in the coming month but as great as this last month will be in Holland I cannot wait to get on that plane home to Aus. 8 and a half month is a long time to be away from family and friends and I’m really looking forward to seeing everyone again!
That’s the update for now guys, hopefully the next time I write ill be typing away with Dutch league championship medal around my neck!
Jordan Richards.
When we got back it was straight back to the grind. That was up until I started feeling a pain in my lower abdominal. After not being able to play for a while I was booked in for scans. Unfortunately the scans showed up a 1cm by 1cm tear in my Rectus Abdominal even though it wasn’t a large tear in terms of how big tears can be, it was in an awkward place to heal and I was ruled out for 7 weeks. Abdominal tears have a notorious history for reoccurring so it’s really important not to be tempted to return earlier then what the doctor suggests. I found the 7 weeks hard not being able to play but was glad Georgie was still here, it meant we had a bit more time together and were able to go on day trips to Amsterdam, Rotterdam and just explore Zwolle a bit more which was fantastic. On February the 3rd it was time to say goodbye to Georgie. We got up early and caught the train to Schiphol airport in Amsterdam both not saying much on the way in as if trying to hide the fact that she was leaving. It was sad seeing her go through the gates but I was so thankful that she did come over and that we got to do and see some very cool things in Europe.
While Id been injured the team have been playing well, we won the national Bekker tournament (a tournament held between the division one and two clubs in Holland) and we qualified for the finals series sitting clear on top of the ladder. At the moment we are coming towards the tail end of the finals series and as of just last night we have locked in our spot in the Championship play offs! The remaining matches will determine whom we will meet. Being able to come out over 10 points clear on top of the ladder with a hefty list of injuries we are feeling confident in our chances to go back to back as players including myself are slowly returned to the playing list.
Very exciting times are to be had for myself and Landstede volleyball in the coming month but as great as this last month will be in Holland I cannot wait to get on that plane home to Aus. 8 and a half month is a long time to be away from family and friends and I’m really looking forward to seeing everyone again!
That’s the update for now guys, hopefully the next time I write ill be typing away with Dutch league championship medal around my neck!
Jordan Richards.
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