Russia claimed second victory over Netherlands at 2016 World League
Bari, Italy, June 17, 2016 - Russia defeats Netherlands for the second time in this edition of 2016 world League. The 3-0 (25-17, 25-23, 28-26) on the first day in Bari puts Russia closer in the race for Final six spot. Nataliya Goncharova was yet again the best scorer of her team.
This is the seventh of the eight World Grand Prix matches between both teams, with the most recent one - 3-1 in Kaliningrad on June 10. while the previous game was the clash of the opposites Nataliya Goncharova and Lonneke Sloetjes, Anne Buijs took over the best scorer role for her team, coming in on court in the second set.
Powerful play in attack and block allowed Russia to take an early lead 8-6. The team stretched the gap to 10-7 after an ace from Zaryazhko. Sloetjes tried to fought back, but Russia kept the save advantage 14-9. Netherlands continued to decrease opponent's lead with a block, but Russia kept going five points ahead until claiming the set 25-17.
Russians opened the second set with similar fire, leading 8-5 at the first TTO. Coach Guidetti decided to sub out some of the players, hoping to change the odds of the game. This didn't bring much change to the Dutch side as Russians kept dominating at 16-11. The Dutch started to chase the score with Pietersen serving an ace to bring the team to 17-15 and eventually tied at 20-20 with block by Buijs and an ace. The match continued point by point, but Russia seals the deal 25-23.
The last set continued in a similar way to the end of the second set with point teams keeping the score close. Netherlands smelled their chance, trying to chase the score but unforced errors put Russia again on the lead 14-11. Russians learned their mistakes of the previous set and keeping their focus, they maintained the advantage to 19-15 and 22-19, when Netherlands fought back to make it 23-22. Both teams served an emotional end of the set with Goncharova finishing the match 28-26.