Stan Maring combines his international volleyball adventure with studies, internship and personal growth

For Stan Maring, a student of International Facility Management at Hanze University of Applied Sciences, his current stay in Split is about much more than just volleyball. The student athlete combines an intensive training schedule with a foreign internship and studies at the University of Split. His time in Croatia is a true learning experience where sports, academics, and personal development go hand in hand.

Text: Emiel Venema

Stan has a packed schedule in Split. His weekdays start with morning training from 7:30 to 8:30 am. After that, he heads to his internship, and in the afternoon he attends classes at the University of Split. He ends the day with evening training from 7:00 to 9:00 pm. That leaves little room for the rest an athlete needs. But Stan found a solution on Instagram. “First, you drink a cappuccino or an espresso”, he explains. “Then you try to fall asleep as quickly as possible. When you wake up after fifteen to twenty minutes, the caffeine has kicked in and you’re ready to go again. That works really well for me. Besides, by the evening I’m usually so exhausted that falling asleep isn’t a problem at all.”

A year of studying abroad

Last season, Stan played volleyball with Sudosa Assen in the Top Division, the second-highest level in the Netherlands. He was eager to take the next step toward professional volleyball. “But I had to study abroad for a year as part of my International Facility Management programme”, Stan says. So he started looking for the combination of a suitable volleyball club and an academic institution abroad. That’s how he ended up in Split.

He contacted the OK Split coach himself and managed to sign a contract without the help of an agent. “That makes you a bit more attractive to teams”, Stan says. “Because they don’t have to pay extra money to a manager.” Still, finding a professional club on your own also has its downsides. “It can definitely be challenging and mentally demanding. I’m currently in the process of talking to teams for next season and constantly have to follow up. Normally that’s the manager’s job, who can take some of the mental and emotional load off you. But I definitely believe I’m learning a lot from it.”

At the moment, Stan is also learning a lot through his internship and studies in Split. “At my internship, I have to come up with different ways to develop the company’s sustainability and CSR—Corporate Social Responsibility”, he explains. At the University of Split, Stan studies Economics and Tourism. “I think the economics part will be useful for my studies at Hanze, but the tourism part probably not so much”, he admits. “Still, it’s broad and in the end, you always learn something.”

Challenges on the court

Stan is no stranger to living abroad, having spent five years in the United States earlier in life. So he manages well in Croatia, even though things haven’t gone entirely as expected on the sports side. “I came here expecting to join a fairly strong team. But it turned out that only our opposite hitter and I can really reach professional level. It’s tough to carry a team with just the two of us. Luckily, the overall level in the Superliga is higher than what I was used to in the Netherlands, so I can still learn a lot.”

“I’m still young. I really want to learn. I didn’t come here to carry a team”, he continues. “At first, I said: ‘I don’t need to be captain. I just want to show that I give it my all.’ But I’ve definitely developed leadership skills and learnt how to talk to a team when things aren’t going well. I’ve also learnt how to stay calm. Most of the obstacles I’ve faced so far, I see more as opportunities than real setbacks. You learn to deal with the situation.”

Aiming for the BeNe Conference

Not only is Stan gaining academic experience in Split, but he’s also picking up valuable skills on the court that he hopes to carry with him into the coming years. “Right now, I’m talking to teams in the Netherlands for next season. Playing in the Netherlands would be fantastic, especially in the growing Eredivisie with the new BeNe Conference—a league featuring the top four Dutch and Belgian clubs. It would be amazing to be a part of that.”

Playing in the Netherlands next season would also be beneficial for his International Facility Management studies at Hanze, Stan knows. “I still need to take some exams and write a thesis. If I’m in the Netherlands, I can travel by train to take my exams. The rest I can do online.” Still, he hasn’t ruled out another adventure abroad. “I’m always open to other opportunities. I’d love to see more of the world. So I wouldn’t mind ending up in a completely different place again. Just like now in Croatia—I didn’t expect this either.”