Anna Haak's younger sister and volleyball star Isabelle Haak suffered from fatigue syndrome in 2024 and had to take a break from volleyball. Lack of rest and recovery due to the tight playing schedule was the main cause of the ordeal.
Two years later, Anna Haak still thinks that too many matches are played.
There can still be more time between the club season and the national team season.
“Does not affect”
After Isabelle Haak's situation, both the International and European Volleyball Federations announced that they would review the sport's scheduling, and later the European Championship qualifiers were canceled.
"It doesn't affect this summer anyway, because this year it was the European League and then it will be the European Championship. It might affect a summer in the future, I don't know," says Anna Haak.
She also doesn't like that the Golden League and Silver League have been merged into the European League.
I think it was good the way it was before. Then there were two different levels and a few fewer teams. More chances for more to make it to the playoffs. It will be interesting to see if they go back to how it was before or if they continue like this.
29-year-old Anna Haak left her club in the US after the season last spring. Instead, she will play in Japan for Victorina Himeji going forward.
I was very motivated and excited for a new challenge. They play very technically and quickly, it will be fun to be in such a good league.
Then it will be fun to discover the culture and Japan as a country too, if you have some time. I lived with a Japanese woman in the US, so I have talked to her about the culture.
First up will be the European Championship with Sweden. The group stage will be played at home in Gothenburg.
It's been a long time since there was a volleyball championship at this level in Sweden, so it's incredibly cool. Playing in front of your loved ones in a European Championship, not everyone can do that.
Hoping for a big crowd
Since volleyball has grown in Sweden in recent years, it feels extra fun. I hope the Swedish people feel the same way, and think "of course we have to check it out".
Sweden comes to the European Championship on the back of its European League victory.
It will be fun to see what we can achieve. We are very motivated.
How far can you go?
It's hard to say, but the goal is first and foremost to get out of the group, then we'll see what kind of opposition we get. We hope to perform well and go far.
August 21, 7:00 PM, Sweden–Montenegro.
August 22, 6:00 PM, Sweden–Slovakia.
August 23, 6:00 PM, Sweden–Italy.
August 25, 7:00 PM, Sweden–Croatia.
August 27, 7:00 PM, Sweden–France.
Arena: Scandinavium, Gothenburg.
The European Championship is also being played in the Czech Republic, Turkey and Azerbaijan. The finals will be held in Brno, Czech Republic and Istanbul, Turkey.
Born: September 19, 1996.
Position: Left-handed.
Club: Victorina Himeji, Japan.
Former clubs: Engelholms VS 2012–2015, University of Miami 2015–2017, Marquette University 2017–2019, Vandœuvre Nancy Volleyball 2019–2020, ASPTT Mulhouse 2020–2023, Cuneo Granda Volley 2023–2024, LOVB Austin 2024–2025, LOVB Madison 2025–2026.
Club achievements: League title in the USA 2024–2025, two French Super Cup golds 2021–2022 and 2022–2023, league title in France 2020–2021, French Cup gold 2020–2021, Swedish Championship gold 2014–2015, Swedish Cup gold 2014–2015.
Individual achievements: MVP of the French Super Cup 2022–2023, best left-footed player in the Silver League 2018, best left-footed player in the Eastern Conference in the USA 2017–2018.
In the national team: Team captain since 2025. Two European League titles (formerly Golden League) in 2024 and 2026. Two Silver League titles in 2018 and 2022. Silver in the Challenger Cup in 2023.
