Madhesh United, one of the six franchise teams of the Everest Women’s Volleyball League, have signed Yevginiya Kalinova of Kazakhstan, the club said on Tuesday.

“We have signed Kazakhstan’s Yevginiya Kalinova as our first international player,” said Madhesh United in a press release.

“We are very excited to have signed Kalinova for the upcoming volleyball tournament.”

The 35-year-old Kalinova will assume the role of striker in the Madhesh team, who have Niruta Thagunna as their marquee player.

The towering Kalinova, who is 180 cm tall, will carry her experience with the Kazakhstan national team in the Everest Volleyball League.

All six teams have already announced their eight-member squad and respective coaches.

Gandaki, Kathmandu, Madhesh, Lalitpur, Karnali and Chitwan will compete in the tournament.

Each team is permitted to sign a maximum of three foreign players each, while one player will be selected through a talent hunt.

“I am very excited,” Kalinova said in a video message which was posted by Everest Women’s Volleyball League on its Facebook page. “I will come to Nepal to play for Madhesh and the first edition of the Everest Women’s Volleyball League. Please support our team.”

Madhesh’s other squad members include Puja Tharu, Sangam Mahat, Jasana Mahato, Shanti Tamang, Hira KC, Aashika Chhetri and Alisha Manandhar.

Bharat Yadav is their coach.