Celeste Plak

After retreating to local club De Boemel, a few months later her former coach visited her matches during the national Dutch youth championships in Sneek.

Her coach said Plak would become the first black player in the Dutch national team,[1] which she achieved in 2013, debuting at the FIVB World Grand Prix.

[2] As an intern for the Orange Youth, Plak lived at the national sports centre in Papendal, only returning home during weekends.

After many years ignoring offers by foreign teams, during a 2014 FIVB Volleyball Women's World Championship qualification match in Croatia, Plak was seen by manager Donato Saltini.

[3] Plak was born in Tuitjenhorn, daughter of Surinamese kickboxing world champion Kenneth and Dutch volleyball player Karin.