MATCH INFO

Niterói, Brazil, August 7, 2011 – Belgium defeated Puerto Rico, 3-0 (25-22, 25-19, 25-21) in a very balanced match on Sunday where both sides showed their best skills.

Belgium (3-0 in Pool H) was already qualified for the August 9 semifinals where it will play either Japan or Tunisia. Puerto Rico (0-3 in Pool H), still looking for its first victory in the tournament, will play in Monday's quarterfinal matches.

Puerto Rico's Ricardo Archilla led all scorers with 17 points on 14 attacks, two blocks and one service ace. Belgium captain Sam Deroo led his team with 16 points on 13 spikes and three blocks.

Belgium scored 30 points on Puerto Rico errors while only giving up 20.

Puerto Rico had 20 points given to Belgium on their errors, and the Europeans, even winning the match, lost 30 points to their opponents. Ricardo Archillia was the best player of the match, with 17 points, including 14 attacks, two blocks and one serve. Sam Deroo, Belgium captain, was the best player on their side, scoring 16 points – 13 attacks and three blocks.

Belgium took a 10-7 lead in the first set and continued to lead by three at 12-9 when Puerto Rico scored five straight points on four Belgium errors behind the serving of Javier Perez to lead 14-12. Belgium’s Anshel Ver Eecke ended the run with a spike from the left and Belgium eventually tied the score at 15-15 on Puerto Rico’s hitting error and went ahead 16-15 at the second technical timeout (TTO) on and ace by Martijn Colson. With Belgium leading 23-20, Morales had an attack for Puerto Rico and Belgium hit its next spike out of bounds to bring the Puerto Rico to within one. But Belgium scored on an attack to reach set point and Deroo had a spike off an overpass for the set victory.

Puerto Rico trailed 3-2 in the second set when Belgium served into the net and Puerto Rico’s Ricardo Archilla followed with an ace. Puerto Rico’s Pedro Nieves scored with a spike of an overpass of another Archilla serve and a Puerto Rico block put the Caribbean team of 6-3. Puerto Rico continued to lead 8-5 at the first TTO. Puerto Rico continued to lead at 10-6 when Belgium scored four straight points, including three Puerto Rico errors, behind the serving of Stijn D’hulst to tie the score at 10-10. Belgium took its first lead at 15-14 and extended it to 23-16. It reached set point at 24-17 and one the set with an attack.

The third set started with an ace from Puerto Rico's Josue Rivera, and then Belgium took the lead and carried this until the first TTO, on 8-7. Puerto Rico led by as many as two at 14-12, but Belgium came back to take a 16-15 lead at the second TTO. With the score tied 19-19, Puerto Rico sent two attacks out of bounds to give Belgium a 21-19 lead and was not able to take it back.