Volleyball players lose a thrilling duel from very strong Italy at the World Cup in their own country Other sports
The Dutch volleyball women have lost the last game of the group stage at the World Cup. Italy was too strong in four sets for sold-out stands in GelreDome: 25-13, 22-25, 25-16, 25-22. Orange had already qualified for the second round.
The result in the first set not long before the Italian team had created a comfortable 5 points. The Orange continued to recover during the set and saw Italy walk out step by step. The first set went to Italy with no less than 25-13.
But it was definitely not a full walk-over. In the second set, the Netherlands recovered with creative and attacking play. Italy started making mistakes. For example, the team of national coach Avital Selinger protected a small movement until the end and the first set point was used: 22-25.
From that moment on, Italy regained concentration and limited its own mistakes. Thanks in part to the handsome smashes from star player Paola Egonu, the third set went to Italy without any problems: 16-25. The player of the Turkish VakıfBank SK scored the most points in the entire match: no less than 18 pieces.
In the nerve-racking fourth set, the Netherlands managed to fight back from four points behind. In the slot, which was dominated by many bad serves on both sides, Italy was more careful in the build-up and the block was impenetrable at times. For example, Italy, still unbeaten at the World Cup, drew the longest end: 25-20.
The Netherlands won the first three matches and had already secured a place in the second round before the match against Belgium. All points from the first group stage will be carried over to the second round, which will be played in Rotterdam.
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