Indoor star Margareta Kozuch pairs up with Karla Borger

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Maggie Kozuch will be hoping to transfer her indoor skills to the beach alongside Karla Borger. Photocredit: FIVB.

It’s the most wonderful time of the year…for new partnerships!

German indoor hero Margareta Kozuch is swapping her shoes for the sand to become Karla Borger’s new partner for the 2017 season.

This summer Borger’s partnership with Britta Büthe come to an end after a season that saw the duo reach the last 16 of the Olympics and win bronze at the European Championships in Switzerland.

Kozuch, 29, has a wealth of experience having represented the German national indoor team a staggering 336 times and leaves the indoor circuit with Champions League and European League gold titles to her name.

Maggie, who stands an imposing 1.88m tall, pairs up with Karla to become the blocker on their new beach team with the hope of realizing a dream of reaching the Olympics – which had not been the case with the indoor team.

@maggiekozuchofficial_ 🤗 so so so excited 😘 #happy #beachvolleyball #partner #welcome

See this Instagram photo by @karlaborger * 49 likes

“I had quite a few interesting offers from other block players but my focus from the beginning was with Maggie,” Karla told volleyball-verband.de. “She has had great success in Germany and abroad and brings a lot of experience from the hall. As well as her body size she has outstanding technical and athletic ability and I am confident Maggie will quickly settle in the sand. It’s everything a good beach girl needs.”

A delighted Maggie said: “I am really looking forward to this opportunity Karla has offered me. With her I have an incredibly strong and experienced player at my side which was decisive in the decision for this new adventure.

“I know that it is the step into a new life and I cannot wait to finally feel the sand between my toes.”

Welcome to the beach Maggie – enjoy the ride!

Karla (left) and Britta had been partners since 2010 and won six medals on the FIVB World Tour together. Photocredit: Sebastian Marko