Anders Mol and Christian Sørum, the talented Norwegian team, are still unbeaten in Apeldoorn. On this Sunny Saturday they play against the Belgian team Dries Koekelkoren and Tom van Walle. In the quarterfinal of the World Tour last week in Gstaad these teams met each other too, where the Norwegian team appeared to be the strongest. After an exciting match in three sets the Norwegian team proved to be stronger. They win with 2-1 and go on to the quarterfinal today.
Team Mol/Sørum takes immediately the lead in the first phase of the match. They play quietly and controlled and so they are able to get a little advance of three points, 5-2 to the advantage of the Norwegians. The Belgian team, supported by some 10 fans who travelled to Apeldoorn, can find the connection with the Norwegians and come back to a score of 9-8. Team Mol/Sørum do not let themselves getting confused and enter the technical time-out with, again, and advance of three points (12-9). The Belgians seem to come out from the time-out strong, but team Norway does note give the Belgians a chance for an advance and come themselves at an advance of 15-13. Mol has shown in previous matches that he has a strong Block available; at the score 16-14 he entertains the public with another nice Block (17-14) followed by a time-out requested by the Belgians. At the return on the field again a block of Anders Mol follows. At 20-17 the Norwegians have the chance to finish the match, but the ball is hit out via the hands of Mol. The next setpoint is used positively; the Norwegians win this set with 21-28.
Spike, according to fans on Facebook the nicest Spike of the European Champions League (every play city has one) shows his dance moves between the sets, where after the players come back toe the warm field. The Belgian team now takes for the first time the lead in this match at a score of 3-2, but the Norwegians quickly even the match. By a nice ace Amders Mol equals the score at 8-8. With a Block of Van Walle the team Koekelkoren/Van Walle get into the time-out with one point advance against Mol/ Sørum (10-11). An ace makes the advance of the Belgians somewhat broader, 10-12. The Norwegians come back ccleverly, but seem to play a bit unsure than what they dit in the first set. They do not know how to defence themselves against the smart balls of team Belgium, which cost the team important points. At a score of 15-17 they try to overrule the Belgians. The team nearly gets equal at a score 17-18, but the Belgians score with a smart ball. After a ball hit out by Mol the Belgians arrive at set point. Team Belgium do not let this chance go, they score and win the set: 19-21.
As expected the exciting third set goes equally in points. The teams are well-matched. Team Mol/ Sørum seem to have found their strength back and take the lead at a score of 8-4. It does not look as if the fit Norwegians will give away this advance, despite the efforts the Belgians undertake to come nearer. Mol/ Sørum win the set convincingly with 15-11. This afternoon they play the quarterfinal in Apeldoorn against either The Netherlands of Poland.