Former Dutch National Teamer Kay van Dijk, who was part of the Orange Tulips from 2003-2013 including the 2004 Olympic Games, has transferred to Emma Villas Siena in the Italian Serie A2 League. He arrives after having started the season with Paykan Tehran in the Iranian league. This is his first sojourn into Italy since he played with 3 different teams from 2011-2012, including most recently Serie A side Diatec Trentino.
The opposite will boost Siena’s chances as they approach a third-straight Serie A2 playoff after finishing 3rd in the Girone Bianco division. He’s the second Dutchman on the team, joining Hidde Boswinkel who arrived in December in the same group of opposites. Since his arrival, Boswinkel has hit at a 45.7% clip and ranks in the top 10 in the league in points with 489 in 28 games.
He has already begun training with the club and is available for the side.
The 33-year old stands 215cm (7 feet) tall, bringing elite height to Siena – their previous tallest was Roberto Braga and Vincenzo Spadavecchia, both of whom were are 204cm (6’7″) tall.
“I owe this return to Italy to Coach Cichello: after his call I had no doubts about coming to this team. I accepted this challenge because I absolutely want to be able to achieve the promotion goal as it was in 2013 in Molfetta just under Manuel’s guidance,” van Dijk said, referring to his promotion with Molfetta with the same coach in 2013.
He replaces Martin Nemec on the roster. Nemec requested and was granted a release in January due to lack of playing time
“The arrival of Van Dijk,” said President Giammarco Bisogno, “completes the roster after the departure of Martin Nemec. This purchase becomes one more reason for the team to do well; the whole environment must demonstrate the desire and the absolute search to reach the greatest goal we have set ourselves since we have trod this category (Serie A2); finally, for the city and all the fans, I hope it will be a new incentive to support us on this journey. It’s an important purchase to meet the needs of the team and the team to reach the goal of qualifying for the top series.”
Siena is in the middle of the 2nd phase of the A2 playoffs and are already 2-0 with a 3-1 win over Monini Spoleto and a 3-0 sweep of Caloni Agnelli Bergamo. Van Dijk started in the 3rd set of their most recent match and scored 6 total points with 1 ace and 5 kills on 13 attacks,
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