Janne Heikkinen (volleyball)

Janne Heikkinen
Janne Heikkinen
Personal information
Full name	Janne Heikkinen
Born	11 April 1976 (age 48); Kajaani, Finland
Height	2.04 m (6 ft 8 in)
Spike	351 cm (138 in)
Block	328 cm (129 in)
Volleyball information
Position	Middle-blocker
National team
1993-2009	Finland (235)
	Last updated: September 9, 2014

Janne Heikkinen (born 11 April 1976) is a Finnish former volleyball player, a member of Finnish national team in 1993-2009.

Career

Clubs

He started his career in his home town Kajaani with his brother. When he was sixteen years old he moved to Tampere and started study in Varala sport high school. Heikkinen made his debyt in Finland volleyball league year 1993. He was seventeen-year-old youth player. He won on his first season in Raision Loimu bronze medal of Finnish Championship. Same year he was in youth World Championships were Finland played history best result, 4. place. After season media chose him best newcomer player in the league. Heikkinen played in Raision Loimu seasons 1993-1998. In his last season he won Finland league champion. After many seasons in Finland volleyball league Heikkinen made professional contract with CV Las Palmas. He was 22 years old and won silver medal of Spanish Championship. In 1999 he signed a contract with Italian team - CUS Torino Pallavolo. Last season in Torino, Heikkinen won with his team Italian A2-Cup silver medal. After two season, in 2001 Heikkinen moved to Greece and started play in Olimpiacos Piraeus. He won silver medal of the Champions League and silver of Greek Championship. After one season Heikkinen came back to Italy. He played season 2002-2003 in Italy A1-league. He did not got achievements on Sira Cucine Ancône, so he moved away. In 2003 made contract with Aon hotVolleys Vienna. Season was success to him and his team. They won title of Austrian Champion. Season 2004/2005 Heikkinen played in Alto Bolzano. He did not got there any achievements. He played season 2005/2006 in Martina Franca Volley. In 2006 moved to PlusLiga, to Polish club Skra Bełchatów. He won with Polish team three titles of Polish Champion (2007, 2008, 2009) and two Polish Cups - in 2007 and 2009. In season 2007/2008 won with club bronze medal of Champions League. He ended his career in 2009.

Club	Country	From	To
Raision Loimu	Finland	1993	1998
CV Las Palmas	Spain	1998	1999
CUS Torino Pallavolo	Italy	1999	2001
Olimpiacos Piraeus	Greece	2001	2002
Sira Cucine Ancône	Italy	2002	2003
Aon hotVolleys Vienna	Austria	2003	2004
Südtirol Alto Adige Bolzano	Italy	2004	2005
Martina Franca Volley	Italy	2005	2006
Skra Bełchatów	Poland	2006	2009

National team

Heikkinen debuted in Finnish national team as 17-year-old player against Croatia in the World Championships qualification. Best result of Finnish team was fourth place in the European Championship 2007.^[1]