Axewomen land Dutch standout setter Carlijn Radstake for 2026
Netherlands native brings elite European experience and national team pedigree to Acadia
The Acadia Axewomen volleyball program has added setter Carlijn Radstake for the 2026 season.
Radstake, a 5'10 setter from Apeldoorn, Netherlands, joins Acadia with experience in one of Europe’s top volleyball systems.
She has played for Meerdervoort VV Utrecht and SV Dynamo Apeldoorn. She also competed in the Eredivisie, the top division in the Netherlands, for the past two seasons.
Acadia head coach Michelle Wood said Radstake’s experience will be a major addition to the program.
“It’s a rare privilege to coach an athlete with Carlijn’s level of experience,” said Wood. “She brings a wealth of knowledge, maturity, and high-level on-court performance, having competed in the top division in the Netherlands and within their national team programs.”
Radstake was part of several strong finishes at the club and national levels. Her teams reached the quarter-finals of the Dutch national championship in 2022, 2023 and 2025, and advanced to the semifinals in 2024.
She also helped her team place third at the Dutch National Youth Championships in 2024 at the 20U level. In 2023, she won a Dutch national title at the 18U level and helped the Netherlands place third at the European Youth Olympic Festival.
Radstake also has beach volleyball experience. She placed third at the national beach volleyball championships at the 19U level in 2022 and at the 15U level in 2019. She also spent two years training with the national beach volleyball team.
She said Acadia stood out because of its community, academics and volleyball environment.
“I am eager to attend Acadia University because it represents the intersection of things I find important: a strong sense of community, a close-knit environment, medical sciences, and the beauty of the country,” said Radstake. “Most importantly, I am drawn to Acadia’s welcoming and competitive volleyball culture.”
Radstake will study in the master of kinesiology program at Acadia.
She said she is looking forward to starting her graduate studies, joining the volleyball program and becoming part of the community in Wolfville.
“I’m genuinely curious about everything there is to discover, from the local culture to the new people I’ll meet,” said Radstake. “I’ll be there to dive into my new master of kinesiology program and play volleyball, and I’m excited to join the community.”