Durrës, Albania, September 2, 2018.  The Netherlands continued on a positive note their campaign in Pool I of the #EuroVolleyU19W after their match vs. Bulgaria. The Dutch players gave one set away to their opponents, but were able to react on time, not allowing the Bulgarians to bring this matchup into a tiebreak and won it by 3-1. In the second match for the day, the team of Belarus grabbed a straight 3-0 win over the hosts from Albania without any big problems and took their first three points from the competition after losing 1-3 to Italy on Saturday. In the last matchup of the Pool, Italy showed better skills than Poland. The score was very close in the second set, but the Italians showed better nerves and after winning it at 29-27, they kept calm and focussed for a 3-0 victory.

The Netherlands vs. Bulgaria 3-1 (25-16, 25-22, 22-25, 25-23)

• The Netherlands and Bulgaria were constantly following each other in the first set until the sixteenth point, when the Netherlands scored six points in a row, which helped them a lot gain some psychological advantage. After that, the Dutch did not have any problems until the end of the set and took it by 25-16. 
• Julien Van de Vyver’s team kept the pressure high on their opponents in the second set as well (12-6) and despite the timeout called by the Bulgarian head coach Asen Metodiev, the Netherlands took this set as well. 
• Bulgaria started better in the third set, tying the score at 8-8. Feeling a little bit more confident in themselves, the Bulgarian Lionesses were leading at 16-12. The Dutch tried to respond, but Bulgaria took this set. 
• The fourth set was a close one, with both sides constantly exchanging the lead, but the Dutch players were better in the decisive moments and won it to secure a 3-1 victory. 

Julien Van de Vyver, head coach of the Netherlands: “Today was a good day for my team, because we won. However, after the first two sets my players got nervous and started making mistakes. I am happy that they were able to come back in the fourth set, a very tough one. Now the real battle starts for us as we have to play against Belarus, Italy and Poland - the group favourites."

Albania vs. Belarus 0-3 (15-25, 21-25, 13-25)

 
• Although the Albanian players tried to tie the score in the first set, the players headed by Natallia Melianiuk grabbed it at 25-15.
• The hosts of #EuroVolleyU19W made it a little bit more difficult for Belarus in the second set (9-9; 21-21). However, the more experienced players of Belarus took advantage of Albania’s mistakes and emerged victorious at 25-21. 
• Belarus were motivated not to allow any big surprises in the match, taking control of the action on the court and winning comfortably at 25-13.

Natallia Melianiuk, head coach of Belarus: “We played strong at the service and in attack as well – and this was enough for us to win. Albania has a young team, and they need time to learn and to improve. As for my team, we have to work hard as Italy and Poland are the favourites to qualify from this group, but we have our chances.”

Roland Tarja, head coach of Albania: “We already said it that we have a lot to learn at this level. We played better than in the first match and after an average first set, we had a very good second one and we were unlucky not to win it. However, I hope that my players are learning after each match.”

Italy vs. Poland 3-0 (25-21, 29-27, 25-12)

• Poland started better in the game, but Italy responded immediately. The Italians started speeding up for 17-14 and forced the Polish head coach Waldemar Kawka to take a timeout. This was not much of a help and Italy opened the match with a 25- 21 set win with Loveth Oghosasere Omoruyi scoring seven points of her own in this section of the game.
• In the early stages of the second set Poland performed strong, their efforts producing a 14-11 lead in their favour. Italy coach Massimo Bellano took a timeout and it worked out fine for 16-16. The Volleyball battle continued until the very last moments, but Italy showed better nerves to win this set at 29-27.
• Winning such a close battle obviously inspired the players of Bellano as they closed the third set at a landslide 25-12, thus winning the match at 3-0. 

Waldemar Kawka, head coach of Poland: “We played against one of the best teams in the world. We gave our best in the two first sets, but after that the lack of experience had its impact on us. Tomorrow is a new day, we have to stand up and fight.”

Massimo Bellano, head coach of Italy: “Today’s match wasn’t easier than we thought it would be. Poland are a great team, regardless of this defeat. They are well-organised and have good players. Tomorrow we play against Bulgaria and we think only about how to win over them. We want to go step by step, because in tournaments like this it it not good to think much further.”