Home » NEW YEAR’S INTERVIEW: Celeste Plak – “Two months after the summer season has finished, there are way too many players with serious injuries”

NEW YEAR’S INTERVIEW: Celeste Plak – “Two months after the summer season has finished, there are way too many players with serious injuries”

by WoV

Novara are having a great season in the Italian women's Serie A1. The Dutch international Celeste Plak is a part of this team who helped Novara to be in the first place in the standings.

Celeste Plak

Celeste Plak

In an interview for WorldofVolley, Celeste Plak has said some very interesting things. Let’s read it. 

Novara had an amazing run in Serie A1, scoring 10 wins in a row, but it’s been terminated by Cuneo. Are you satisfied with such start of the season in Italy?

Being ranked first in a strong competition like the Italian one is a good way for us to end 2018! Of course, it is satisfying but we aren’t even at half of the competition yet.  The victories during the playoffs are the ones that are the most important.”

It seems there are many title contenders in Italy.  What are the chances of Novara to win Scudetto?

I think we have a chance to win the Scudetto. Together with some other teams. The Italian league is a strong one, it is hard to even tell who might get into the finals! Teams are close and are fighting hard. This might create surprises!”

It’s your third season in Novara. How do you feel there?

I feel good in Novara. I know the city and the people are helpful. In 2 seasons we won all the Italian prizes: Scudetto, Coppa Italia, Supercoppa. This is my 3rd season here and again we are chasing titles. And I still feel like I am learning a lot here. So, I’m in a good place!”

Next year will be challenging in the national team. There will be a qualifying tournament for the Olympic Games. Are you looking forward to it?

I am looking forward to the OQT, it’s always a really tough challenge to qualify. Especially for European countries where the competition to qualify is so hard! Too few places for too many strong teams. Trying to qualify is like a gladiator pit! That makes the honor only bigger to play on the Olympic court!“

Recently, the coach Morrison committed future to the Dutch team. How does it feel like to work with him?

Morrison brought the American way of volleyball to our gym. It is nice to get in contact with different volleyball cultures! He is a technical coach so that is good especially for our young players.“

Celeste Plak

Celeste Plak

What’s your biggest dream in volleyball?

Easy one: the Olympic gold.“

Goals and wishes for 2019?

Honestly: My goals and wishes for 2019 are to get out of the international season healthy! The past national team season was really heavy physically and mentally. We all had full programs, traveled a lot and played insanely many games. And next summer it will be even more. You can see now that 2 months after the summer season has finished, there are way too many international players with serious injury’s! That’s not okay. So my biggest wish is just that we’ll all have fun doing what we do and to arrive at our clubs ready and fresh to play!“

A short message for the young volleyball players?

Have a goal every day before you start practice. For example Today I want to hit the ball high in attack, today I want to move my feet quickly in reception. Like this, you are practicing more consciously and you’ll improve faster! And the most important one: HAVE FUN!!“

 

Check out more New Year’s interviews.

 

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