The Czech Republic celebrate their first win of the FIVB Volleyball World Grand Prix 2016
Zielona Góra, Poland, June 5, 2016 - The Czech Republic won their last match of Zielona Góra FIVB WGP Group 2B tournament, downing team Canada without dropping a set (25-13, 25-18, 25-23), while the rivals had good moments but kept struggling with their own mistakes.
In the battle between the two winless sides in Pool B2, it was the Czech Republic who took the honours with captain Tereza Rossi contributing 15 points, including three service aces and three blocks. Canada’s Danielle Brisebois was not far behind with 14 points scored.
Canada started the match well, but soon their lack of experience caused series of own errors. This fact, plus good performance from the service line by Tereza Rosi and overall good play of the Czech team catapulted Alexander Waibl’s girls from being two points down at the first technical timeout to a 16-11 advantage by the second mandatory break. More points followed and the European team took the set 25-13.
Canadian team’s defensive efforts enabled them to stay close to the opponents, as the score remained tied for the first half of set two. Czech Republic had only two points more than Canada at the second technical time-out, but the things changed soon changed, with effective blocking by the Czechs and more errors on the Canadian side of the net. A bad service from Canada’s Elizabeth Wendel secured the first set ball to Czech Republic at 24-18 and they closed out the set without hesitation.
Related information:
It seemed that Canada pulled their game together at the beginning of set three, with good blocking and Megan Cyr winning an one on one at the net against Eva Rutarova for 8-4 at the first technical timeout. It went even better by the second technical break 16-12. Canada had everything they needed to end the set in their favour and yet, somehow their game became more erratic once again, allowing Alexander Waibl's players to equalize the score at 22-22 and to get the first set ball a moment later (24-22) to eventuallny win the set 25-23 and close the match out in straight sets.