Match reports The Hague

Kolaciva/Kvapilova (CZE) – Gruszczynska/Gromadowska (POL)
Power with the Czech ladies at the first ladies match in The Hague.

The first ladies teams in Poule F in The Hague come into action this morning. After an easy first set, the start of the second set is somewhat more complicated. After the second half of the match the Czech ladies win with a large advantage in 2 sets.

The Czech ladies are able to come to the lead of the match rather quickly with a score of 4-1. The Polish hit back strongly upto draw of 4-4. The first time-out is requested by the Polish when they are five points behind at a position of 10-5. Kolacova/Kvapilova (Czech Republic) are able to extend their lead rather easily upto a position of 16-8. After a long rally the Czech provide for the first setpoint, which they take at once. The first set ends in 21-10.

In the match Gruszczynska/Gromadowska (Poland) the first set starts with a lead of 2-5. After the first side switch the Czech ladies speak to eachother encouraging words and the result is that they enforce at long last a draw of 10-10. The Czech Republic reach an strong position of 17-13. And so they enforce the winning of the second set with the score 21-14.

Lehtonen/Ahtiainen (FIN) – Dabizha/Matikova (RUS)
The Finish ladies are too strong for the Russians

Russia starts with two other lady players due to injuries with the other two lady players. During the first set they remain far behind. The second set becomes more exciting, but also in this set they fail short. Finland appears to be too strong for the Russians: 2-0.

Finland quicky reaches the lead and is able to hold this on for a long time. Hard attacks of the Finish ladies provide ascendency for a long time. The Russians recur a bit, but cannot come closer to the Finish. At a technical time-out the result is 12-9. The Russians are too short in their defence. Lehtonen/Ahtiainen (FIN) know how to hold on their leading position by smart game, good blocks and attacking power. At the time-out on the Russian side the score is 16-10 and it will be very difficult to come back. Dabizha/Matikova (RUS) are able to score some points but the Finish ladies do not allow more. A score of 21-14 is the end of the first set.

Also in the second set the Finish ladies quickly reach their leading position at an intermediate result of 4-1. The Russians are able to come back upto a score of 5-4. Lateron they have more attacks and the match even reaches a score of 10-9. Due to smart balls and good attacks on the Russian side they keep the match exciting. The intermediate score reaches 17-17. The first matchpoint on Finish side is got at a score of 18-20. By reaching the score 21-19 they know to finish this set in their advantage. Lehtonen/Ahtiainen (FIN) win their first match with 2-0.

Vergé-Dépré/Vergé-Dépré – Eiholzer/Steinemann
Swiss ladies against each other; sisters too strong

The sisters Vergé-Dépré only yesterday had their first training, due to the fall out of Heidrich. Still they appear to be the stronger team after two sets in comparison with the other Swiss team.

Vergé-Dépré/Vergé-Dépré start very strong in the first set and extend their position up to 8-2. The other Swiss team tries to come back, but the lead by the sisters is kept with a score of 16-7. They attack strongly and stay the leading team. The first set is quickly finished at a score of 21-10.

In the beginning the second set is rather equal, but still Eiholzer/Steinemann cannot reach the level of Vergé-Dépré /Vergé-Dépré. At a technical time-out the score is 13-8. The sisters know how to block the other Swiss ladies many times. At a score of 17-13 Vergé-Dépré /Vergé-Dépré request for a time-out. Thereafter Eihilzer/Steinemann succeed to come nearer to the sisters. At a score of 19-16 the second set still becomes exciting. At long last the sisters also win the second set with a score of 21-17.

Smedins/Samoilovs (LAT) – Rumsevicus/Kazdailis (LTU)
On the programm was mentioned a men’s match between two Baltic states. Letland and Lithuania took up the match against each other. The wind caused now and then some trouble for both teams. After an exciting second set Letland dragged in the victory for the second time: 2-0.

In the first set the teams goes equally. With two killblocks in a row Letland reaches the lead with 9-6. At the technical time-out the lead was kept with a score of 12-9 for the Lets. Hereafter Lithuania comes back strongly at an intermediate score of 14-13. The Lion lives up to its name after a miraculous smash leading to a score of 19-15. Letland knows to finish it and the first set ends in 21-16.

The second set is a neck to neck race. After an intermediate score of 8-7 the match goes on equally to both sides. Both teams show strong play with many smashes and beautiful rallies. After an intermediate score of 18-18 and a setpoint on the Lithuanian side, the score is 20-20. Letland carries through and reaches the victory in this second set with 22-20. The second set is gained and thus the second victory.

Bryl/Fijalek - Bergmann/Harms
Germans do not come close to the Polish

Poland is too strong for the Germans in the second poule match. In both sets Germany cannot follow and they appear not to be able to build up an advance.

Both teams start strong and continue equally. Poland takes the lead and is responsible for a score of 8-4. After an advance of 4 point Germany slowly regain and is able to minimize the difference to 11-9. At the technical time-out the score is 12-9. Germany still cannot follow up to the score 18-15. Bryl/Fijalek (Poland) therefore gets the chance to make the first setpoint and indeed take this immediately: 21-15 for Poland.

Also the beginning of the second set is going equally. After the first side switch the score is 4-3. Poland gets an advance of 10-6. Slowly, slowly Germany comes closer when the score is 11-10. At

this moment the technical time-out takes place. Poland gains a bit of terrain up to 15-11. After two huge blocks in a row by Bergmann the advance for Poland is limited to 18-16. With the score 20-16 the first matchpoint for Poland is a fact. This is not finished, so there is still a chance for Bergmann/Harms (Germany). With a score of 21.17 the second set is finished. Poland wins the match with 2-0.

Sinnema/Bloem – Davidova/Shchypkova
The Dutch women too strong for Ukraine

Today the Dutch Beach Volleyball ladies Sinnema/Bloem came in action for the first time in The Hague. They took up the battle against the Ukraine ladies Davidova/Shchypkova. A nice match followed with a convincing victory for the Dutch ladies.

Encouraged by the Orange public the Dutch ladies build up a strong advance up to 5-10. Ukraine decides to request a time-out. Still the Dutch ladies are strong and reach an advance of 8-16. Sinnema/Bloem can finish the set easily: At the second setpoint they win the set with the score 13-21.

Also in the second set the two Dutch ladies soon reach an advance. Strong and smart they extend their advance to 9-16. Also due to the enthousiastic public the end of the set is easy to reach. With the score 11-21 the match is won by Sinnema/Bloem with 2-0.

Lehtonen/Ahtiainen – Gruszczynska/Gromadowska
Three sets for Finland and Poland

After an exciting match of three sets the decision is in favour of the Finish players. The appear to be too strong fort he Polis hand win the match by 2-1.

In the first set the results remain equal up to the score 7-7. Thereafter the Finns run out, despite the good attempts to defend by the Polish, to the score 10-7. Gruszczynska/Gromadowska (POL) regain a bit up to 13-11. Thereafter Finland runs out further and they appear to be able to win the first set with a score of 21-15 after the second setpoint.

Also the second set begins very close with an intermediate score of 5-5. Due to a decent tick ball Lehtonen/Ahtiainen (FIN) gain a small advance: 5-6. After a nice blocking Poland takes over the advance with an intermediate score of 8-7. The Finish ladies request for a time out at the score of 14-16. Poland keep the advance and reacht the socre at 16-19. Setpoint for Poland: 21-18; 1-1 in sets.

Finland starts the third set strongly with an advance of 3-0. Finland keeps the advance of 3 points, when both teams make points in turns. The intermediate score is 12-9. The third set is won by Finland with the score 15-10. The end result: 2-1 for Finland.

Kolocova / Kvapilova (CZE) - Dabizha / Mastikova (RUS)
Second win for the Czech women

This morning the Czech women got to win the first match. They finished the last match of this game again with a 2-0 win.

Kolocova/Kvapilova (CZE) started the new match with conviction and took the lead with 6-1. They continued this until an intermediate of 10-3, after which the Russian team took a time-out. From this moment the Russian team was able to come back point by point. Followed by a time-out on the Czech side at 11-7. Three points later the match was put on hold for a technical time-out. The defence from the Czechs was very strong for the rest of the match. In combination with a small group of enthousiastic Czech supporters they managed to win the first set with 21-15.

Again a strong start of the second set by the Czech women with the intermediate of 6-2. The Russians wanted a time-out when the score was 13-6. Unfortunately it didn’t get any better for them. The Czechs took the lead at 16-8. Dabizha/Mastikova (RUS) kept going for the ball, but they didn’t succeed. At 21-12 the Czech team won the match. They were very proud of the win by 2-0 both matches. Tomorrow they come across the Finnish women. The winner of that match will be placed directly in the eight finals. The other team will participate in the 16th finale.