A partnership to bring kiwi Volleyballers to Swedish pro leagues

VolleyPro and Linköpings Volleyball Club (LVC) are proud to announce the formation of a strategic partnership aimed at creating a clear and long-term professional development pathway for some of New Zealand’s most talented volleyball players.

Linköping Lions Womens team celebrate with fans after winning the Swedish Championship in 2025.

The partnership means that LVC will provide professional playing opportunities to players from VolleyPro who are ready for international competition. As one of Sweden’s most successful volleyball clubs, LVC offers a professional environment with high-quality training, clearly defined performance standards, and a proven track record of developing elite-level players.

LVC comes off several highly successful seasons and has solidified its position in Swedish volleyball by winning the Swedish Championship in the 2024–2025 season as well as the Grand Prix title in 2026. Over many years, the club has helped a large number of players progress to professional careers and offers excellent opportunities for talented athletes with ambitions to reach the international stage.

VolleyPro is an innovative initiative within the New Zealand volleyball landscape, with a clear focus on developing players for professional careers abroad. The organization provides structured coaching, long-term development programs, and a clear understanding of what is required to succeed at the international level.

“VolleyPro provides something that I wish had been in place in New Zealand when I was a young volleyball athlete – a clear and predictable pathway to professional and international level competition,” says VolleyPro founder Tim Middlehurst.

LVC also sees great potential in the collaboration.

“For LVC, this partnership is an opportunity to connect early with highly ambitious and talented players. The collaboration strengthens our international profile, adds both quality and depth to our elite team, and will help to ensure our continued success. We hope to bring players to Sweden for the 2027–2028 season,” says Mathias Gustafsson of LVC.

By combining VolleyPro’s development model with LVC’s elite environment, a clear and secure transition is created from national talent development to European elite volleyball.

Together, LVC and VolleyPro Academy aim to help raise the level of volleyball in New Zealand while creating a strong link between New Zealand talent development and European elite volleyball — with player development at the center.

For all media enquiries, please contact VolleyPro Director:

Tim Middlehurst

tim@volleypro.co.nz