María Marín

{{Infobox volleyball biography

| name = María Marín

| image =

| caption =

| fullname = María Alejandra Marín Verhelst

| nickname =

| nationality = Colombian

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1995|11|4|df=y}}

| birth_place =

| hometown =

| height = 178 cm

| weight = 68 kg

| spike = 281 cm

| block = 270 cm

| college = Universidad Tecnológica de Bolívar

| position =

| currentclub = São José dos Pinhais

| currentnumber =

| years1 = 2010-2017

| team1 = Liga Bolivarense

| years2 = 2016-2017

| team2 = ASPTT Mulhouse

| years3 = 2017-2018

| team3 = São José dos Pinhais

| nationalyears = 2015-

| nationalteam = Colombia

| medaltemplates =

{{MedalCountry | {{COL}} }}

| medaltemplates-expand = set to "yes" to auto-expand medaltemplates section

| updated =

}}

María Alejandra Marín Verhelst (born 4 November 1995) is a Colombian volleyball player. She is part of the Colombia women's national volleyball team.

Career

With Bolivar, she won the 2010 Colombian Youth National Championship and the 2010 Colombian Junior Championship.{{cite web|url=http://www.eluniversal.com.co/cartagena/deportes/bolivar-campeon-2|title=Bolívar, campeón|publisher=El Universal|language=Spanish|date=20 May 2010|accessdate=26 December 2017}} She claimed the fifth place in the 2010 Youth South American Championship held in Peru.{{cite web|url=http://www.voleysur.org/v2/noticia.asp?id=1927|title=Campeonato Sudamericano Femenino de Menores 2010: Clasificación y Premiación Individuales|publisher=CSV|language=Spanish|date=2012-08-30|accessdate=26 December 2017}}{{cite web|url=http://www.voleyrosario.org.ar/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=527%3Atriunfo-de-las-menores-en-peru&Itemid=157|title=Triunfo de las menores en Perú|publisher=Asociación Rosarina de Voleibol|language=Spanish|date=25 August 2010|accessdate=26 December 2017}}

She won the silver medal in the 2011 Colombia Junior Championship, representing Bolivar{{cite web|url=http://www.eluniversal.com.co/cartagena/deportes/bolivar-en-la-elite-del-voleibol-nacional-20062|title=Bolívar, en la élite del voleibol nacional|publisher=El Universal|language=Spanish|date=18 April 2011|accessdate=26 December 2017}} and later she won with Bolivar the 2011 Inter Schools Championships.{{cite web|url=http://www.eluniversal.com.co/cartagena/deportes/bolivar-el-amo-del-voleibol-43646|title=Bolívar, el amo del voleibol|publisher=El Universal|language=Spanish|date=14 September 2011|accessdate=26 December 2017}}

=2013=

In the 2013 Copa Latina, she won with her national team the gold medal and the Best Setter award.{{cite web|url=http://www.eluniversal.com.co/cartagena/deportes/colombia-campeon-de-la-copa-latina-de-voleibol-juvenil-119336|title=Colombia, campeón de la Copa Latina de Voleibol Juvenil|publisher=El Universal|language=Spanish|date=13 May 2013|accessdate=26 December 2017}} In June she traveled to Brno, Czech Republic, to play the 2013 FIVB U20 World Championship, ending up in the 13th place.{{cite web|url=http://www.fivb.org/EN/volleyball/competitions/U20/2013/viewMatchInfo.asp?Category=2&MatchNo=75&No=40578|title=Colombia see off Egypt in straight sets to clinch 13th spot|publisher=FIVB|location=Brno, Czech Republic|date=30 June 2013|accessdate=26 December 2017}} She finished the pool play round as the top setter; she recalled that she found very important spending four months practicing together and would like to have faced the tournament with even harder strength.{{cite web|url=http://www.eluniversal.com.co/cartagena/deportes/maria-alejandra-marin-la-creativa-del-voleibol-colombiano-124772|title=María Alejandra Marín, la creativa del voleibol colombiano|publisher=El Universal|language=Spanish|date=29 June 2013|accessdate=26 December 2017}} She won the 2013 Colombian Championship in the senior category with Bolivar.{{cite web|url=http://www.coldeportes.gov.co/montaje/index.php?idcategoria=58223|title=Bolívar ganó el título en Nacional de Voleibol Femenino - Categoría Mayores|publisher=COLDEPORTES|language=Spanish|date=29 July 2013|accessdate=26 December 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171227173531/http://www.coldeportes.gov.co/montaje/index.php?idcategoria=58223|archive-date=27 December 2017|url-status=dead}}

She won the 2013 Bolivarian Games bronze medal with her national team.{{cite web|url=http://www.cablenoticias.tv/vernoticia.asp?ac=Colombia%20lleva%20ventaja%20de%20siete%20preseas%20en%20los%20Juegos%20Bolivarianos%20Trujillo&WPLACA=7439|title=Colombia lleva ventaja de siete preseas en los Juegos Bolivarianos Trujillo|publisher=Cablenoticias|language=Spanish|date=30 November 2013|accessdate=25 December 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171226073913/http://www.cablenoticias.tv/vernoticia.asp?ac=Colombia%20lleva%20ventaja%20de%20siete%20preseas%20en%20los%20Juegos%20Bolivarianos%20Trujillo&WPLACA=7439|archive-date=26 December 2017|url-status=dead}}

=2014=

Marín won with Bolivar the 2014 Colombian National Senior Championship played in Cali.{{cite web|url=http://www.coldeportes.gov.co/montaje/index.php?idcategoria=65216|title=Bolívar finalizó campeón del LI Campeonato Nacional de Voleibol Mayores|publisher=COLDEPORTES|language=Spanish|date=14 July 2014|accessdate=26 December 2017}} In August 2014, Gómez won the silver medal in the 2014 U22 South American Championship.{{cite web|url=https://elcomercio.pe/deporte-total/voley/angela-leyva-elegida-mejor-jugadora-sudamericano-sub-22-356133|title=Ángela Leyva elegida la mejor jugadora del Sudamericano Sub 22|publisher=El Comercio|language=Spanish|date=25 August 2014|accessdate=26 December 2017}}

She won the Best Setter award in the 2014 U23 Pan-American Cup.{{cite web |title=Dominican Brayelin Martinez elected the MVP of the Women's U-23 Pan-Am Cup |url=http://www.norceca.net/Dominican%20Brayelin%20Martinez%20elected%20the%20MVP%20of%20the%20Women%E2%80%99s%20U-23%20Pan-Am%20Cup.htm |publisher=NORCECA |location=Ica, Peru |date=13 September 2014|accessdate=26 December 2014}}

=2015=

On club level she played for Liga Bolivarense in 2015.{{cite web|title=Team Roster – Colombia|url=http://worldgrandprix.2015.fivb.com/en/preliminary-round-group3/competition/teams/col-colombia/team_roster|work=FIVB.org|date= |accessdate=16 February 2016}} With Liga Bolivarense she claimed the 2015 National Games championship{{cite web|url=https://www.juegosnacionales.gov.co/deportista/atleta/156243#/ficha/156243|title=Amanda Daniela Coneo Cardona|publisher=juegosnacionales.gov.co|language=Spanish|date=13 November 2015|accessdate=25 December 2017}} over the Antioquia team{{cite web|url=http://www.eluniversal.com.co/deportes/bolivar-campeon-del-voleibol-femenino-en-los-juegos-nacionales-211134|title=Bolívar, campeón del voleibol femenino en los Juegos Nacionales|agency=COLPRENSA|publisher=El Universal|language=Spanish|date=13 November 2015|accessdate=25 December 2017}} without losing a single set in the whole tournament.{{cite web|url=http://www.eluniversal.com.co/deportes/bolivar-viene-muy-fuerte-y-aqui-no-para-esto-vamos-por-mas-211166|title="Bolívar viene muy fuerte y aquí no para esto, vamos por más"|publisher=El Universal|language=Spanish|date=14 November 2015|accessdate=26 December 2017}} In the 2015 South American Championship, she won the bronze medal with her national team and was awarded tournament's Best Setter.{{cite web|url=http://www.colombiasports.net/polideportivo/volleyball/bronce-para-colombia-en-el-sudamericano-de-voleibol-femenino-2|title=Bronce para Colombia en el Sudamericano de voleibol Femenino|last=Saenz|first=Amelia|publisher=ColombiaSports.net|language=Spanish|date=4 October 2015|accessdate=25 December 2017}}

=2016=

Marín joined the French club ASPTT Mulhouse.{{cite web|url=http://www.aspttmulhousevolley.fr/pro/news/nouvelle-arrivee-a-lasptt-mulhouse-maria-alejandra-marin/|title=NOUVELLE ARRIVÉE À L'ASPTT MULHOUSE: MARIA ALEJANDRA MARIN|publisher=ASPTT MULHOUSE|language=French|date=2 August 2016|accessdate=26 December 2017}} She helped Bolivar to win the 2016 Colombian U21 National Championship.{{cite web|url=http://www.eluniversal.com.co/deportes/futbol/la-gobernacion-del-bolivar-exalto-los-equipos-de-voleibol-y-karate-do-233463|title=La Gobernación del Bolívar exaltó a los equipos de voleibol y karate do|publisher=El Universal|language=Spanish|date=19 August 2016|accessdate=26 December 2017}} She won the 2016 U22 South American Championship silver medal and the Best Setter and Most Valuable Player awards.{{cite web|url=http://www.eluniversal.com.co/deportes/colombia-subcampeona-en-voleibol-femenino-en-suramericano-de-lima-231950|title=Colombia, subcampeona en voleibol femenino en Suramericano de Lima|last=Caballero Villa|first=Carlos|publisher=El Universal|language=Spanish|date=2 August 2016|accessdate=26 December 2017}}

She was awarded 2016 Volleyball player of the year by the Colombian Volleyball Federation and the Colombia Olympic Committee.{{cite web|url=http://www.eluniversal.com.co/deportes/asi-fue-la-noche-de-los-mejores-del-deporte-colombiano-242291|title=Así fue la noche de los mejores del deporte colombiano|agency=COLPRENSA|publisher=El Universal|language=Spanish|date=12 December 2016|accessdate=26 December 2017}}

=2017=

With ASPTT Mulhouse, Marín won the 2016/17 French Championship.{{cite web|url=http://www.aspttmulhousevolley.fr/pro/news/lalsace-12052017-rancon-de-gloire/|title=L'ALSACE DU 12/05/2017 : LA RANÇON DE LA GLOIRE|publisher=ASPTT MULHOUSE|language=French|date=12 May 2017|accessdate=26 December 2017}} After returning from France, she won the 2017 Colombian Senior Championship as the captain of the Bolivar team, their fifth championship.{{cite web|url=https://www.elheraldo.co/deportes/se-prolonga-el-reinado-de-bolivar-en-el-voleibol-pentacampeonas-366791|title=Se prolonga el reinado de Bolívar en el voleibol: pentacampeonas|publisher=El Heraldo|language=Spanish|date=28 May 2017|accessdate=26 December 2017}} She played with her national senior team the 2017 South American Championship,{{cite web|url=http://voleibol.pe/internacionales/suda2017-colombia-alista-sus-armas-para-enfrentar-a-peru/|title=#Suda2017 Colombia alista sus 'armas' para enfrentar a Perú|last=Muñoz|first=Sebastian|publisher=Voleibol.pe|language=Spanish|date=15 August 2017|accessdate=25 December 2017}} winning the silver medal when they lost 0–3 to Brazil, winning the Best Setter individual award.{{cite web|url=http://voleysur.org/v2/noticia.asp?id=15710|title=Brasil suma su 20º Titulo y clasifica al Mundial de Japon en el Sudamericano de Cali|publisher=CSV|language=Spanish|date=19 August 2017|accessdate=25 December 2017}} She played in October the 2018 FIVB World Championship CSV qualification tournament, but her team could not get a berth for next year competition.{{cite web|url=http://primertiempo.co/2017/10/16/colombia-no-pudo-quedarse-con-el-cupo-al-mundial-de-voleibol-femenino-del-proximo-ano/|title=Colombia no pudo quedarse con el cupo al Mundial de Voleibol Femenino del próximo año|publisher=Primer Tiempo|language=Spanish|date=16 October 2017|accessdate=26 December 2017}}

She won the bronze medal in the 2017 Bolivarian Games under 23 tournament.{{cite web|url=https://www.elespectador.com/deportes/otros-deportes/colombia-bronce-en-voleibol-y-oro-en-ganarse-el-corazon-de-los-cienagueros-articulo-723760|title=Colombia, bronce en Voleibol y oro en ganarse el corazón de los cienagueros|last=Salas|first=Edgar Jose|publisher=El Espectador|language=Spanish|date=17 November 2017|accessdate=24 November 2017}} She won the 2017 Volleyball player of the year in December, 2017.{{cite web|url=http://www.semana.com/deportes/articulo/el-comite-olimpico-colombiano-premio-a-lo-mejor-del-deporte-nacional/550449|title=El Comité Olímpico Colombiano premió a lo mejor del deporte nacional|publisher=Semana|language=Spanish|date=12 December 2017|accessdate=26 December 2017}}

Personal life

She studied in the Institución Educativa Soledad Acosta de Samper (I.E.S.A.S.) high school{{cite web|url=http://www.eluniversal.com.co/cartagena/deportes/semillero-de-voleibol|title=Semillero de voleibol|publisher=El Universal|language=Spanish|date=23 September 2010|accessdate=27 December 2017}} and as of 2015 she was studying Business Administration in the Universidad Tecnológica de Bolívar.{{cite web|url=http://www.unitecnologica.edu.co/noticias/dos-estudiantes-de-la-utb-hacen-parte-del-equipo-de-colombia-que-gano-medalla-de-bronce|title=Dos estudiantes de la UTB hacen parte del equipo de Colombia que ganó medalla de bronce en Four del World Grand Prix 2015 de voleibol|publisher=Universidad Tecnológica de Bolívar|language=Spanish|date=20 July 2015|accessdate=26 December 2017}}