“Smart Araneta Coliseum” in Quezon City, Philippines, the team ofElementachieved a clean victory overNetherlandsand secured participation in the knockout stage of the world championship. Although the result was 3:0, the three sets were extremely competitive, with the “tulips” showing greater composure in the decisive rallies.
Team Statistics
| Indicator | Element | Netherlands |
|---|---|---|
| Attack | 33 | 37 |
| Block | 9 | 9 |
| Serve | 10 | 4 |
| Opponent's errors | 25 | 21 |
| Total points | 77 | 71 |
The Romanians even had a slight advantage in attack (37 against 33), but the strong serve of the Netherlands (10 aces against 4) and more gifted points from the opponent tipped the scales. The block was even (9:9), which shows that the match was decided mainly by the serve and resilience at the end of the sets.
Individual Performances
| Player | Team | Points |
|---|---|---|
| Ahii (No. 3) | Element | 18 |
| Koops (No. 10) | Element | 13 |
| Barta (No. 1) | Netherlands | 13 |
| Balean (No. 7) | Netherlands | 12 |
The leader for the Netherlands wasAhii with 18 points, distinguishing himself with stable offense and good decisions in key moments. Koops added with
For Romania, the setter of Italian champion Trento, Bela Barta, and Balean kept the team in the game, but lacked sufficient support from the others. The son of former Bulgarian national player Radostina Tsitigoi - Daniel finished with 9 points (two blocks and two aces).
| Game elements | Element | Netherlands |
|---|---|---|
| Romania | 44 | 44 |
| Digs | 54 | 61 |
| Reception | 78 | 78 |
Both teams showed equal defensive skills – 44 digs each. Romania had an advantage in reception (61 against 54), but this was not reflected in the score due to lower efficiency in attack finishing. The distribution was identical, indicating that the key was in the effectiveness of the outside hitters.
The Netherlands demonstrated maturity and experience in crucial moments, managing to close all three contested sets. The serve was the main weapon of the "Tulips," and Romania will regret the missed opportunities at the end of the sets.
photos:volleyballworld.com
