Chaine Staelens of the Netherlands spikes past Puerto Rico's Sheila Ocasio.
Netherlands
vs
Puerto Rico
3
-
0
Kobe, Japan, November 4, 2006 -- The Netherlands picked up their second win in Pool C with a resounding 3-0 victory over Puerto Rico.
After a close first set, the Dutch ran out 30-28, 25-17, 25-18 winners to even their record for the tournament at 2-2.
The Puerto Ricans are also 2-2.
Puerto Rico slipped into a two-point lead by the first technical timeout of the first set, but from the first long rally on the first point, the contest was close and the standard of play extremely high.
Puerto Rico's Aurea Cruz hit her form early, while the Netherlands' big gun Manon Flier was also in good form.
Puerto Rico earned a two-point lead at the first technical timeout on the back of two fabulous blocks, the first by Vilmarie Mojica and Sheila Ocasio on Chaine Staelens and the second a solo effort by Cruz on Caroline Wensink.
With Flier leading the team with spikes and great defense, the Netherlands stayed close, but Puerto Rico were also playing solid volleyball and were three points ahead at the second TTO.
Flier again performed sensationally after the second TTO, with a huge spike and some awesome defense.
As a result, the Dutch caught up with the Puerto Ricans at 19-19 and opened up a three-point lead at 24-21.
But they couldn't close the game out and Cruz drew the two teams level at 24 each.
Puerto Rico had two set points but Flier and captain Ingrid Visser rescued the Dutch.
Big hitter Alice Blom then came up with a typically massive thump for setpoint and a great block by Caroline Wensink on Jetzabel Del Valle clinched the set for the Dutch 30-28.
In the second set, the Dutch were on top from the very first point.
They drew into a 10-5 lead thanks to good work from Visser and Debby Stam and a couple of service errors by Puerto Rico.
Cruz tried her best to keep her team in the game, but the Dutch were playing high-level volleyball and the Puerto Ricans were struggling to keep up.
Visser came up with a couple of big plays, and a thumping spike from Blom brought setpoint, which Wensink converted with a smart crosscourt spike.
The third set threatened to be a complete blowout as the Dutch - even seen to be smiling at times - blitzed Puerto Rico and streaked out to a 14-3 lead.
The Puerto Ricans didn't help their chances by making three service errors, but they redeemed themselves with three amazing blocks at 15-4, all involving Del Valle, who was assisted by Cruz, Eva Cruz and Karina Ocasio.
The Puerto Ricans had another mini-rally towards the end that made the score more respectable, but, in truth, they were being outplayed by a Netherlands team on song.
Blom closed out the match with a crafty dink to give the Dutch a well-deserved win.
