Press release
Slovakia finishes seventh with four-set win over Belgium
Slovakia's JaroslavSmatanikova dives to save the ball, which helped her team to finish seventh in the FIVB Volleyball Women's Junior World Championship Peru 2011
Lima, Peru, July 31, 2011 - Slovakia beat Belgium 3-1 (25-23, 25-12, 29-31, 25-20) in the seventh-place match played Sunday during the FIVB Volleyball Women´s Junior World Championship Peru 2011 at Eduardo Dibos Gymnasium in Lima.
Both teams had never played at any tournament of the FIVB Volleyball Women´s Junior World Championship and now both are in the top eight worldwide.
Slovakia's Nikola Radosova scored a match-high 20 points, next to Tatiana Crkonova and Romana Kriskova with 18 points each. For Belgium, the top scorer was Lise Van Hecke with 14 points, next to Lorena Cianci with 13 points and Valérie El Houssine with 11 points.
Live scoring, results, news and photos on FIVB Volleyball Women's Junior World Championship Peru 2011.
The first set began with Belgium stronger in passing (six digs in the set) and they reached the first technical time out leading 8-6 thanks to Cianci´s block (three points in the set). The set continued and Belgium was ahead Slovakia for 11 points. However, Slovakia got the point distance to six, but the second technical time out was for Belgium 16-10. At this point, Slovakia woke up and they scored four points in a row tied the score at 22-22. Belgium committed a lot of spikes errors (11 in the set) insuring the 23th point for Slovakia. Belgium tried harder to win the set and the score reached the difference of one point thanks to Linde Hervent´s spike (two points in the set). The set ended 25-23 in 26 minutes thanks to the Cianci´s block.
The second set was different. Slovakia started winning the set with a five-point advantage. At the first technical time out, Lotte Penders (one point in the set) had spike error and Slovakia was ahead to 8-3. Slovakia scored seven straight points and the second technical time out was for them with a point difference of 10 points. The 20th point for Slovakia was scored by Cianci who hit a hard spike (one point in the set). Belgium tried to recover the set, but they only reached their 12th point because of Slovakia´s dig error. Romana Smatanikova (seven points in the set) hit a spike that defined the set to 25-12 in 22 minutes.
The third set was a tight one. The first technical time out was for Slovakia with a point difference of three. However, Belgium's spike improved and they tied the score at 15-15 thanks to Ilka Van De Vijver (four points in the set). Hecke hit a serve that insured the 16th point for Belgium and the second technical time out. Belgium was ahead by four points at 20-16, but started to commit many mistakes that helped Slovakia tie the score at 24-all. Finally, Van Hecke hit a spike and the set ended 31-29 for Belgium in 32 minutes of set.
The fourth set of this match had a tie beginning. Karin Palgutova (four points in the set) missed a block and Belgium got the tie score at four points. The first technical time out came to 8-6 because of a Belgium serve error. The Belgium squad tried to recover the set, but Slovakia's dig was stronger (four in the set). Slovakia reached the second technical time out to 16-8. Belgium started to play harder and they got their 20th point thanks to Cianci´s spike (four points in the set). However, Slovakia needed just one point to win, and they ended the set to 25-20 in 28 minutes.
Download highresolution