Niverka Marte believes youth is the key to Dominican Republic success
Zurich, Switzerland, May 8, 2015 – Dominican Republic captain star Niverka Marte may now be one of her country’s top setters, but she began her volleyball journey just as many other players do: as a fan.
“I was 13 when I saw the Pan American Games in my country,” she says in a video interview with the FIVB. “I saw all the Domincan players playing and I got so excited. I told my father I wanted to play volleyball and then I started to play slowly.”
The 25-year-old competed at last year’s FIVB Volleyball Women’s World Championship in Italy and is currently part of the Mirador setup at the FIVB Volleyball Women’s Club World Championship. She was keen to point out that involving young players in the Dominican team helps prepare them early on for the pressure of performing on the world stage.
“For us volleyball has been developing very good so that’s why we have to grow many young players and give them some experience,” she added. “Every time we take different players to tournaments.”