Shanghai Women's Volleyball Club officially announced the transfer of Canadian opposite hitter Kiera Van Ryk, who will strengthen the squad for the new season in the Chinese Super League. This will be her first season in Asia, after several successful years in Europe and Turkey. This was reported by Turkish media today.
Van Ryk is known for her powerful serve and stable attacking play. She spent three seasons in Turkey – first with Türk Hava Yolları, and then with the powerhouse Vakıfbank, with whom she won the Sultans League title in the last campaign. Before that, she gained experience in Italy with Volley Bergamo and in Poland with KS Developres Rzeszów, where she established herself as one of the most prolific opposite hitters in the league.
On the international stage, Van Ryk is among the leaders of the Canadian national team, with whom she won the FIVB Challenger Cup and participated in the Nations League. At the Women's World Championship in Thailand, where Canada faced Bulgaria and defeated them 3:1, Van Ryk did not participate.
Her experience and leadership qualities will be key to Shanghai's ambitions, which traditionally competes for medals in the local championship.
According to information from China, the Women's Volleyball League will begin in mid-December, after the conclusion of the Chinese National Games. Van Ryk is expected to make her debut with the Shanghai team then, and the club is already preparing its squad for a title assault.
photos: Nikolay Varadinov and
