Algonquin Wolves men's volleyball alumni Connor Finnie has crossed the pond to play his first professional season with TSV Müehldorf over in Germany. The club plays in the South Conference of 2 Bundesliga. We caught up with Connor back in September prior to the start of the season to discuss his experience. Here is a summary of the conversation.
How does the season work?
The volleyball season began in September and goes until late April. The format works differently than what we are used to in North America. There is no playoff format. At the end of the regular season, the top team in the division moves up a division the following year and the bottom 2 teams get relegated. TSV Müehldorf finished in the top spot of the 3rd division last season and got promoted to the 2nd division for 2024-25. So far they are off to a 4-4 start which has them in 9th out of 14 teams. The team plays 26 regular season games.
What does a typical week look like?
The team will typically practice 6 days a week for 2 hours in addition to 4 strength and conditioning sessions. During the regular season the team will play 1-2 games a week.
What is the team like?
Finnie mentioned that his teammates range anywhere from 17 to 26 years old. Volleyball in Europe is mostly club based, meaning players are brought up through the system from a young age. Despite the language barrier, he has enjoyed getting to know his teammates and has bonded with them over the shared love of volleyball. He also mentioned some similarities between his current coach in Germany and former coach at Algonquin, Jelle Kooijman.
How are you adjusting to the culture?
Although most people over there are able to communicate in English, Finnie has been making an effort to learn the German language. He has enjoyed getting involved in the club by coaching the younger generations. With the help of his teammates, he has enjoyed learning and getting involved with some of the local traditions. (See photo below)
What's Next?
The Wolves alumni who was a 3 time OCAA East All-Star has not ruled out a return to Algonquin to finish up his degree.
Follow Along
Here are the details to help you follow along with the rest of Connor's season.
Instagram Page: @tsvmuehldorfvolleyball
Livestream: Dyn Volleyball YouTube Page
We would like to take the opportunity to wish Connor the best of luck with the rest of the season with his new club.
