05/01/2017 21:39
Romania, Netherlands off to flying start at U20 World Champs qualifier
2017 FIVB U20 Women Volleyball World Championship - European Qualification
Ploiesti, Romania, January 5, 2017. On Thursday hosts Romania and the Netherlands started their campaign in the first round of European qualifications to the 2017 edition of the FIVB Women’s U20 Volleyball World Championship in the best way by rallying to compelling victories over Estonia and France respectively in the first matches they contested in Ploiesti.
The Netherlands were the dominant force in the opening match of the tournament and cruised to a speedy 3-0 victory (25-12, 25-15, 25-17) over France as the young Dutchwomen vie for a spot in the second round of European qualifications scheduled for May. The young Oranje players imposed their rule especially with their outstanding blocks and France simply could not keep the pace of their opponents. The first set was really one-sided before France could put up a bit more of a fight in the second and third ones. Eline Timmerman and Laura de Zwart top scored in the end with 13 and 12 points for the Netherlands.
Later in the afternoon hosts Romania beat Estonia 3-1 (25-22, 23-25, 25-19, 25-13). Estonia caught a promising start to the match leading 8-6 and 16-14 in the first set as Romania seemed to lack concentration and made a way too many unforced errors. Finally, opposite Elizabet Varga and outside spiker Adelina Budai-Ungureanu stepped up their efforts to turn the tables around and secure the first set for the home side (25-22).
Romania set the pace of the game early in the second set (8-5) before Estonia edged ahead at the second technical time-out (16-14). Romania tried to put more pressure on their opponents but Estonia’s unstoppable opposite Kertu Laak helped the visitors cruise to a 25-23 win. Romania fought back strongly in set 3 where their block and reception contributed to a fairly comfortable 25-19 win before everything went just easy in the fourth set where Varga and Budai-Ungureanu joined forces to shape up a 25-13 win to seal a 3-1 victory for the home team.
The competition in Ploiesti continues on Friday with the Netherlands playing Estonia before Romania take on France.
Click here for more info including detailed stats of the matches
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