By Bev Oden

The FloVolleyball Olympics Rankings will count down to the start of the indoor volleyball competition in Rio by highlighting one team per gender each day. Today, eight days before the first serve, we profile the No. 8-ranked Argentina men and Netherlands women.

COUNTRY: The Netherlands

TOP PLAYERS

Lonneke Sloetjes, Opposite
Best opposite at World Olympic Qualifier, second-best scorer in World Grand Prix Final Round

Anne Buij, Outside Hitter
Fourth-best scorer at World Grand Prix Final Round

Laura Dijkema, Setter
Third-best setter at World Grand Prix Final Round

RISING STAR TO WATCH

Robin De Kruijf | 25 | Middle Blocker
Led team in blocks at World Grand Prix, seventh-best blocker at World Grand Prix Final Round

SYNOPSIS

The Netherlands returns to the Olympic Games for the third time in the program's history, but the Rio Games mark the first time the team has qualified in 20 years. The Dutch finished sixth in 1992 and fifth in 1996, and then the program fell off the map. In 2015 the team hired Italian coach Giovanni Guidetti and he has brought the team back to prominence. After losing to Russia in the European qualifier, the Dutch women earned their spot in Rio by finishing second to Japan in the World Olympic qualifier.

The Netherlands is coming off of a tremendous performance at World Grand Prix in which it surprised the field by finishing third in Group 1, beating Russia in the bronze-medal match in dramatic fashion, losing the first two sets and coming back to win the next three.

The key hitter for the Netherlands is Lonneke Sloetjes, a 6'3" opposite who is a solid, steady workhorse for her team. She's not going to wow anyone with her power, but she's smart and consistent so she gets her kills and carries the bulk of the offense. 

PREDICTION

The Dutch are gaining confidence with each passing tournament and will be riding a wave of momentum into Rio. The Netherlands is a middle of the pack team that is capable of beating the top teams, not by dominating but by staying in the game. These women are not phased by the power and size of the Americans, Brazilians or Russians. They understand that they can't compete in firepower but they can be tough for the top teams to shake. They just keep siding out and remain in striking distance, knowing they may just be able to win in the end. They are the tortoise who sometimes beats the hare.

The Netherlands will beat Puerto Rico and most likely Italy and have the potential to take down Serbia as well. China and the U.S. should be able to hold the Dutch off if they play at their usual level. That brings the Netherlands out of pool play in third place and it could make a run at the bronze medal.

FloVolleyball Women's 2016 Olympics Rankings

12. Cameroon

11. Puerto Rico

10. Argentina

9. Korea

8. The Netherlands