The Bulgarian women's national team suffered a second loss to the Netherlands during the TeamNL XL Weekend in Groningen. The hosts won with4:0 (25:14, 25:22, 25:17, 25:20)in "Martiniplaza", but the Bulgarian volleyball players showed good moments, especially in the second and fourth sets.
A day earlier, the Netherlands again won 4:0, and the two test matches are part of the teams' preparation for the upcoming European Championship.
The head coach of the Netherlands, Felix Koslowski, started with the same seven from the first match – Jolien Knollema, Sarah van Aalen, Laura Jansen, Indy Baijens, Britt Buit, Els Dambrink, and libero Hester Jasper.
Strong response from Bulgaria in the second set
The Dutch started the match better and imposed their rhythm already in the first set. Their stable defense and effective attack allowed them to quickly build a lead and win the set with25:14.
Bulgaria's reaction came in the second set. The national team started much more confidently, took the lead with4:1and initially managed to keep the opponent at bay.
The Netherlands gradually caught up and at 11:10 took the lead for the first time, but the Bulgarians did not allow the hosts to pull away. A close point-for-point game followed, and at 19:19, it was Bulgaria that made the next move.
With a successful block against Jolien Knollema, the national team took the lead with21:19and had an excellent opportunity to equalize the score in sets. However, several errors in the decisive rallies allowed the Netherlands to make a comeback. The hosts reached 24:21, and Laura Jansen scored for25:22.
The Bulgarians tried to come back in the fourth set as well
In the third set, the Netherlands again managed to exert more serious pressure. Indy Baijens was particularly effective from the serve, helping to build a 20:14 lead with two aces in her series. The hosts maintained their lead and closed the set at25:17.
Although the winner had already been determined, the two teams also played a pre-arranged fourth set. Felix Koslowski made numerous changes to his squad, but the Netherlands again started better and took a 12:6 lead.
However, the Bulgarian volleyball players did not give up and used a drop in the hosts' game to reduce their deficit to15:12. The national team remained in the fight until the final points, before the Netherlands closed the set with25:20.
Thus, Bulgaria concluded the two test matches in Groningen with two 0:4 defeats. In the second match, however, the national team showed periods of significantly more even play, with their best moment being in the second set. Then Bulgaria not only started with a lead, but also led with21:19in the decisive phase, before the Netherlands turned the tide of the set.
The two control matches gave the Bulgarian staff the opportunity to test the team against a strong European opponent and to build up game rhythm before the upcoming European Championship.
