Netherlands – team
In tonight’s second Pool II match, the Netherlands surprised Friday’s winners Germany 3:1. Juliet Lohuis and Marrit Jasper topped the scorers of the winning team with 17 points, while Julia Schaffer booked 21 kills for the losers.
Germany couldn`t find their way around in the first two sets. The almost impenetrable Dutch block-defense system with Juliet Lohuis, Nicole Oude Luttikhuis, Britt Bongaerts as well as Lynn Braakhuis made it virtually impossible for the German ladies to score (the Dutch quartet booked 13 block kills).
Germany started to wake up in the second set, but it was too late to avoid a comfortable 2:0 lead for the surprisingly resurgent Dutch team (25-21). Although Jens Tietböhl’s squad showed a great comeback in the third set, the young Germans couldn’t pull through in the fourth period as the Netherlands picked up their game and booked a well-deserved 3:1 win.
Saskia van Hintum, the Netherlands Head Coach: “We played more aggressively than yesterday. In the match with Serbia we started well but then we stopped. Tonight we didn`t let that happen. I am very pleased with the way my team reacted after last night`s loss.“
Germany head coach Jens Tietböhl: “The Dutch team was obviously better in the first two sets. My girls were a little bit scared, and the Dutch girls gave their best.“
The Netherlands captain Marrit Jasper: “Today we played a perfect match. Everything worked; our serve, the communication on the court, everything. I am very happy.“
Germany captain Steffi Martha Kuhn: “We were a bit nervous in the beginning, but we showed that we wanted to play. Unfortunately it wasn’t enough. Tomorrow is a new day, and I think we`ll perform better.“
To read more volleyball news from this competition click on Youth European Championship 2013 F.
