Press release

Niterói, Brazil, August 10, 2011 – Belgium came away with the championship of Niteroi, a ninth-place finish at the FIVB Volleyball Men’s Junior World Championship, with a 3-2 (25-22, 22-25, 22-25, 30-28, 15-11) victory over Germany in the final match at Caio Martins gymnasium.

Belgium finishes the competition with a 6-2 record. Germany finishes at 3-5.

After Belgium came back to win the fourth set, Germany faltered in the fifth and fell behind early. The team rallied, but it was not enough to beat Belgium.

Germany’s Simon Hirsch led all scorers with 34 points on a match-high 25 attacks, a match-high eight blocks and six aces. Sam Deroo paced Belgium with 27 points on 22 spikes, two blocks and three service aces. Stijn D’hulst and Francois Lecat each had four aces for Belgium.

Belgium led in attacks 59-51 and in aces 13-6. Germany led in blocks 26-9. Germany had 33 team errors while Belgium had 28.

The teams stayed even in the first set, with Belgium leading 8-7 at the first technical timeout (TTO) and Germany leading 16-15 at the second. With the score tied at 17-17, Belgium scored on an attack and a German hitting error. The teams traded points from there, but Belgium maintained its advantage, reaching set point at 24-22 on an attack by Dries Heyrman and winning the set on Germany’s hitting error.

Belgium took an 8-6 lead at the first TTO of the second set, but Germany’s Simon Hirsch scored with an attack after the break, giving the serve to Florian Voelker, who served for Germany’s next eight points, including five blocks, to give the side a 15-8 lead. Belgium’s Heyrman ended the run with a spike down the middle, then served for three straight points to pull Belgium back to within three at 15-12. Germany led 16-12 at the second TTO, but Belgium scored the next five points behind the serve of Francois Lecat, who had an ace in the run and Belgium took a 17-16 lead. Belgium led 22-19 when Germany’s Hirsch scored with an attack. Oskar Klingner took the serve and didn’t give it up, scoring on two aces in the run to the set victory for Germany.

Germany used a serving run from Hirsch to take an 8-5 lead at the first TTO of the third set. With Germany leading 9-6, Hoehne scored on an attack and Jan Zimmerman served for three more points, including an ace, giving Germany a 13-6 lead. Germany was still leading at 23-17 when Deroo got an attack for Belgium, giving Stijn D’hulst the serve. The setter served for three straight points, including an ace, to pull Belgium to within two at 23-21. But Hirsch gave Germany set point with a spike and after a Lecat strike, Klingner won it with a block for Germany.

After a long fourth-set battle that saw Belgium fight their way back from a 19-14 deficit to pull to within on at 23-22, Belgium’s next serve went long and Germany reached match point. But Belgium’s Lecat  fought back with an attack. Germany’s hitting error tied the score at 24-24 and another Lecat strike gave Belgium set point. Germany answered that with a spike to tie the score at 25-25. Belgium reached set point three more times with Germany answering each. At 28-28, Deroo scored on an attack and Germany’s next spike attempt went long, giving Belgium the set.

Belgium took a 6-1 lead in the tie-breaking fifth set. Germany pulled back to within two at 7-5. Belgium led 12-9 when Germany scored twice to pull to within one at 12-11, but Belgium held them off for the victory.