After a successful Golden League spring, Sweden is now ready for the playoffs Final Four at home in Skåne.
It's obviously great fun that we get to play at Catena Arena in Ängelholm where we grew up, and to play in front of close friends and lots of friends, says Anna Haak.
Later in the summer, Sweden will play the World Championship for the first time.
It means so much. You wouldn't have dared to dream about it eleven years ago when both me and my sister (Isabelle Haak) started in the national team. It's really a dream come true.
"Be competitive"
Sweden has, among other things, been drawn against the host nation Thailand.
They have good fans and we expect a full hall with good energy.
Anna Haak will, just like her entire national team time, share the court with her little sister and world star Isabelle Haak during the World Championship.
Something they also did throughout their childhood.
We were competitive as kids. We always tried to win over each other, whether it was volleyball, games, or whatever. I think it has helped shape who we are today.
Honesty lasts longest
Volleyball has strengthened the sibling relationship and Anna Haak believes she is more straightforward and honest with Isabelle than with other teammates.
You can be tougher sometimes, say "hello, I know you can take that ball". I would say it's actually only an advantage to have my sister on the court. We know each other well and we know how to get each other going.
Isabelle Haak is one of the world's best volleyball players and has won the Champions League three times.
Praises little sister
But the big sister testifies that the 25-year-old is still very humble.
She's also a very good teammate. It's very nice to have a teammate at that level who can also cheer on her teammates to always get better, says Anna Haak.
I always get just as proud and happy to see her play so well and have so much fun. I've followed her entire childhood from when we barely knew how to play volleyball to seeing her at this level. It's "unlike anything".
Facts: Volleyball's Final Four in Golden League in Ängelholm
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+ Saturday, June 28 – semifinals Romania-Hungary (16.00) Sweden-Ukraine (19.00) + Sunday, June 29 – medal matches Bronze match (16.00) Final (19.00)
In volleyball, there are several competitions at different levels for national teams on the women's and men's sides.
Nations League – the best national teams in the world. 18 countries participate.
Golden League – the best teams in Europe that have not qualified for the Nations League. After league play, four teams compete in the Final Four.
European Silver League – the lower level of the European national teams' league play.
Which tournament the national teams get to play is determined by the world ranking. Sweden is currently in 21st place in the ranking.
The top 18 in the world get to play the Nations League.
Sweden has a chance to reach the top 18 with double wins in this weekend's Final Four.
