American Michelle Strizak left the professional volleyball team, HPK Hameenlinna, in Finland to continue pursuing her professional career with a new team in Puerto Rico.
The team is currently competing in the Women’s CEV cup where they’ve advanced into the round of 16. They’ll be competing against the Italian team Casalmaggiore today for their first match before they face off once again on the 21st of February. If all goes well the team is planning to advance to the quarter-final round.
Strizak, however, won’t be a part of the teams playoff push. Instead, she’s now competing in the Liga de Voleibol Superior Feminino in Puerto Rico with the Valencianas de Juncos team.
The change doesn’t effect HPK Hameenlinna too much however, as Strizak never competed in a game for the team. This was her first shot at playing for a professional organization. Strizak wrapped up her collegiate career with the University of Illinois in December of 2016.
Following the completion of her collegiate career, she signed a three-week conditional contract with HPK Hameenlinna, giving the club the option to sign her for the remainder of the season. It appears based on the fact that she’s leaving that the team did not choose to sign her.
Replacing Strizak on HPK Hameenlinna is Polish national teamer Kinga Kasprzak who according to world of volley was released from the Azerbaijani Azeryol Baku team last season due to poor physical shape.
Kasprzak suffered a thigh injury and a torn ligament in her right knee prior to playing with Azerbaijani Azeryol Baku. Her injury didn’t allow her to play at peak performance, and thus her contract was terminated only a few weeks into joining the team.
This season however, she began playing with the Hapoal Kiryat Ata team in Israel prior to moving to the Finnish team as they push towards the playoffs. It’s unclear whether or not Kasperzak will be competing in either the playoff game today, or the game on the 21st.
Leave a Reply