VoV, 05-05-2024. 5:17 PM. Katja Stam and Raïsa Schoon once again managed to reach the last day of an FIVB Elite-16 tournament. In the semi-finals, Ana Patricia/Duda from the host country were the opponents for a place in the final. Both duos faced each other five times last year, with Brazil winning four times.
The Brazilian duo was probably enjoying themselves just a little too long from the enthusiasm and encouragement of their fans, because in no time they were 6-0 behind in the first set. The difference remained wide (10-3, 12-6) and at 12-9 the rest was mandatory. Brazil reached 12-10 after the break, but Stam blocked the Netherlands to 14-10. When things went a bit slower for the Dutch team (overpass, ball in the net), Brazil came back to 14-13 and the Dutch team went into time out. On the side out the score was 15-13 and 16-14. The break point put Brazil on the scoreboard with a successful attack (17-14). At 19-16 the fifth field change followed, then Katja Stam scored the last two points for the 21-16 win.
In the second set the roles were completely turned around. The Dutch went into the timeout at 0-3 and after 4-8 there was a Brazilian run of six points that put a difference of ten points on the scoreboard at 4-14. The technical time out was at 6-15, the fourth field change at 10-18. On the waves of applause and encouragement, Ana Patricia/Duda could no longer be stopped by the NL duo, who conceded two aces after 10-19 for the 10-21 final score. So a decisive third set was needed to determine the finalist.
The Netherlands went into the third set after 3-4 made two mistakes, ended up 3-6 behind, then fought for what it was worth to undo that deficit, but did not succeed. Brazil was simply better, leading to 5-10 and after gifts back and forth the scoreboard read 8-11. A misunderstanding by the Dutch team resulted in 8-13, Raïsa Schoon was able to cancel out the first Brazilian match point at 9-14, but after that it was a hit. Brazil clinched their ticket to the final with a score of 10-15.
The Dutch team goes to the battle for bronze, in which Bobner/Vergé-Depre from Switzerland are the opponents. They lost 16-21, 21-19 and 15-12 to the American duo Nuss / Kloth.
Matthew Immers and Steven van de Velde had to deal with the German duo Ehlers/Wickler in the semi-finals to advance to the final battle. Just over a year ago they won against this duo, after which they lost twice.
At 5-2 for Germany in the first set The Netherlands took a time out, which worked well because Steven van de Velde then scored four times for the 5-6 score. Then the score was tied at 12-12 on the side out, with an ace Germany took the lead at 14-12. The 1 to 6 score turned the score to 15-18 in the Dutch favor. After the side out for 16-18, Germany gave the Netherlands three more points. The score was 17-21 for the Dutch team.
In the second set Germany came 8-4 in favor, at 8-8 there was balance again, after which there was a mandatory rest at 12-9. In the second half of the set, Germany did not relinquish its lead. With 14-10 and 18-14 they had a comfortable difference, which could still be overtaken by the Dutch team to 14-12 and 18-16, but they did not make any progress with that. The fifth field change on 19-16 was followed by the 21-18 victory for our Eastern neighbors. So 1-1 in sets and extension.
In the third set initially an even start. After 4-4, the Netherlands was able to score the side out and the break point (4-6) and increased that difference to double at 5-9. Germany came close again at 10-12, but could not get the subsequent goal on the scoreboard. With 11-15, the third set and the final spot went to Immers/van de Velde, a great performance by this duo. And they also earned many important Olympic ranking points with this. The opponent in the final is not yet known.
gh @ Visor on Volleyball. Photos FIVB.
