The Netherlands cruise past Poland in straight sets

Hosts the Netherlands picked up their second win of the weekend with a straight sets (25-18, 25-21, 25-20) triumph over Poland in Pool O of the 2014 FIVB World Grand Prix.

Hosts the Netherlands picked up their second win of the weekend with a straight sets (25-18, 25-21, 25-20) triumph over Poland in Pool O of the 2014 FIVB World Grand Prix.

Key points
• This is the fourth straight sets win for the Netherlands over Poland in the World Grand Prix. They have never lost to their European rivals in the tournament
• The loss means Poland end the weekend with three losses from three. They came into the weekend on the back of five wins from six matches. Their win-loss record now stands at five wins and four losses.
• Poland’s Elzbieta Skowronska topped the scores with 14 despite being on the losing side

The Netherlands began well, going five points ahead quickly. Poland fought back to within two at 11-9 but the hosts were never in real danger of surrendering the frame. A service error from Poland saw the Dutch go 25-18 ahead to take the opener. 

The home side again stormed ahead to take an 8-5 lead. Two kill blocks from Judith Pietersen and Yvon Belien saw them move up to 11-7 before they widened the score. But Poland again fought back into the game to come within a point at 18-17. The Netherlands maintained their composure however, with a stunning spike from Lonneke Sloetjes sealing the set 25-21.

The home heroines refused to relinquish their grip on the match in the third and went into the technical timeout 16-12 up. Quinta Steenbergen appeared unstoppable as she bagged a number of key points. A service ace from Esther van Berkel forced Poland to take a timeout at 18-12. It was too little too late though as a block from Van Berkel ended the set 25-20 and the match.