14/12/2020 14:32
Young Gruvaeus looks forward to European matchup with leaders of Swedish national league
News from the clubs
Cannes, France, December 14, 2020. After claiming the French derby with NANTES Rezé Métropole in the 16th Finals, the ‘Dragons’ of AS CANNES VB resume their journey in the 2021 edition of the CEV Volleyball Challenge Cup on Tuesday at the ‘bubble’ hosted by Halkbank ANKARA. This is where they will be playing SOLLENTUNA VC of Sweden in the 8th Finals and if they make it through this round, they will challenge hosts Halkbank or Sport LISBOA e Benfica for a spot in the semis.
The matchup with SOLLENTUNA VC will be a very special one for the 21-year-old outside hitter of AS CANNES VB, Daniel Gruvaeus, who is originally from Sweden. The 196 cm tall player joined AS CANNES VB this past September from Falkenbergs VBK. “This is my first experience playing Volleyball abroad. Back home in Sweden, next to playing Volleyball, I pursued my studies as well. AS CANNES VB has provided me with the opportunity to do the same, while I follow my education in innovation engineering from afar through distance learning. Obviously, my ambition is to make some progress with my studies but in Volleyball as well. I just want to play and win – as I have always done,” Daniel admits.
Gruvaeus was a member of the Swedish youth and junior national teams when still eligible for those age groups. “I have played a few tournaments with the senior team as well. I do not have that many international caps yet but I played for four years for one of the top teams back home in Sweden. I hope that the best in Volleyball for me is yet to come and that I can celebrate some good results with AS CANNES VB,” he continues.
Daniel’s next opponent in the Challenge Cup comes from the Scandinavian country. “I know the team of SOLLENTUNA VC very well. They currently sit in first place in the highest division of the Swedish national league with a record of 11 wins in 11 matches. They are the clear leaders of the Swedish championship and obviously an opponent that we have to take very seriously. The Swedish national league is not as physical as the major leagues in Europe though,” he says.
Daniel trains regularly with the top team in Cannes, plays in the second highest division and continues his studies as well. “It requires a lot of good planning and it is important to find the right mix between leisure, relax and school. Otherwise, it would be difficult to cope with all this,” he admits.
At AS CANNES VB, he trains alongside some accomplished players such as Taylor Averill and Lincoln Williams, who have achieved much success internationally while representing USA and Australia, respectively. “I like the club, and I like Cannes. I think the coaches, the sponsors, the fans, the administrative staff and the team do a fantastic job giving us the best conditions to train and perform. I hope the coaches and the club are as happy with me and they see that I enjoy developing with their help. I am extremely grateful to be able to train with such professional and exemplary volleyball players as Lincoln, Taylor and the rest of the team of course. I still have a lot to learn, and for this reason, I try to do the best I can on a daily basis,” Gruvaeus continues. “In Sweden I have always been to school or played Volleyball from a young age, so until now Volleyball has been a big hobby and it is my favourite sport, my passion. My future? I want to be a professional volleyball player at least for a while.”
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