The third day of competition in 2014 WEVZA Girls Tournament, being held in Swiss city of Schaffhausen was determined by the struggle for gainning the tickets to semifinals. Germany, Italy, The Netherlands and Belgium will clash in the matches for the podium to be celebrated on Friday, while Spain, Portugal, France and Switzerland will fight for the qualification positions.
Spain 1 – Belgium 3 (19-25, 23-25, 25-16, 21-25)
Belgium was the first team to earn the ticket to semifinal after beating Spain 1-3 in the starting match of the day. Belgium aimed for semifinals and put a step towards victory with an impressive demonstration of efficiency in the onset of the match. Spain tried to stop the powerful display of Belgium girls, but the Yellow Tigers closed the first set 19-25.
Spaniards’ intention was to control the success from the other side of the net, as the tie persisted throughout second set. None of the teams were able to take the lead in the game in this period but ultimately Belgium kept its mistakes at a minimum at the end of the period to finish with 23-25.
Spain reacted in the third set. The young players directed by Jose Miguel Serrato took an early lead in the period and imposed their work in serve and block to avoid the three-setter with a convincing display 25-16. Spain maintained the momentum in the beggining of the fourth period and controlled the set from the first balls. However, Belgium was able to react and put an end to Spaniards’ desisres to force the tie-break. The young Yellow Tigers used a great finalization of period to achieve the definitive 21-25. 1:3 for Belgium and ticket to semifinals for the young squad.
Italy 3 – Portugal 0 (25-17, 25-21, 25-10)
Italy certified its domination in Pool B with an overwhelming victory 3:0 over Portugal. The Italian squad outperformed Iberian side with a three-setter triumph that put the azzurini in semifinals as leaders of Pool.
Portugal tried to control the powerful demonstration by its rivals, but in the three sets Italy managed to take an early lead of the periods by means of its efficiency in block and attack. The outstanding performance by young Italians gave no options to Portuguese players, that only could mask the result at the end of first and second set 25-17, 25-21. The third period was completely dominated by Italy and certified the convincing victory for an Italian squad that showed its condition of favorites to title.
The Netherlands 3 – France 0 (25-19, 25-17, 25-18)
France and The Netherlands clashed in a match for the semifinalists from Pool A. French squad aimed at its first victory in the group, after its two defeats in the tournament and tried to impose its tempo in the game.
However, The Netherlands showed efficiency in the purpose of the Dutch side to earn the ticket to semifinals. Oranje players dominated the first two sets with a convincing display of attacks and defenses. The defeat against Germany on Wednesday forced The Netherlands to search victory in order to fight for title of the tournament, and young Dutch players soon proved their enthusiasm to reach for this goal (25-19, 25-17).
France tried to break their rivals’ momentum in the third but after the second technical time out, The Netherlands took a slight advantage that ultimately was decisive. Oranje players maintained their level of play and closed the set 25-18, thus achieving the final 3:0 and making it to semifinals.
Switzerland 0 – Germany 3 (23-25, 19-25, 17-25)
Germany confirmed its power in the last match of the day and defeated Switzerland in three sets. German girls proved too strong for a young Swiss squad that wished for semifinals but will have to fight for the qualification positions.
Local squad created problems to the leader of Pool in the start of the game, and Germany needed to use all its physical power to overcome the desires of victory of young host team. In a disputed end of set, Germany took advantage of the spikes by its offensive players to close the period 23-25.
German side perpetuated its domination from that moment on, and despite the efforts by local players, the visiting squad seemed too hard to handle and paved its way to victory in the second set 19-25.
Switzerland could not find ways to stop rivals’ efficiency and was unable to prevent Germany from putting the 17-25 in the third period that meant the final 0:3.
Spain will face France and Switzerland will meet Portugal in the matches for fifth position. Meanwhile, the first semifinal will showcase the teams Germany and Belgium, that will clash for a ticket to the Final. The second semifinal will have Italy and The Netherlands as contenders. All the matches will be played on Friday.
For more information of the tournament, including results and standings, click here.
For more pictures of the 2014 WEVZA Girls Tournament in Schaffhausen, click here.
