In Pool 1 in Ottawa, Canada, the Netherlands redeemed from a defeat against the United States on Wednesday and secured their first victory in the Volleyball Nations League 2023 by defeating Cuba in straight sets (28:26, 25:23, 25:18).
Bomber Nimir Abdel-Aziz ended the game as top scorer with 22 points in just three sets (all in attack), while outside hitter Marteen Van Garderen also contributed with 15, including four winning blocks.
Cuba had opposite JesΓΊs Herrera as top scorer with 12 points, followed by middle blocker JosΓ© Masso and outside hitter Miguel Γngel LΓ³pez, with 10 each.
On the same Pool, with Matt Anderson and Max Holt in the lineup, USA gave no chance to the World Champions Italy.
Their team claimed their second victory in the competition, and secured a clear 3-0 (25:15, 25:18, 25:19).
Outside hitter Torey Defalco, who had scored 13 points in USAβs opening game against the Netherlands on Wednesday, was again the top scorer with 15 points to his name including four aces and two winning blocks, while veterans Holt and Anderson scored ten points (including one ace and two blocks) and 7, respectively.
Outside hitter Garrett Muagututia, with nine points, and middle blocker Taylor Averill, with eight, also were decisive.
The winners were better in all elements, outscoring the Europeans in kills (33 to 30), aces (ten to four) and blocks (seven to one), besides also taking advance from more rivals errors (22 to 17).
Italy, on the other hand, who are fielding a young lineup this week in Ottawa, and with just five world champions in their 14-player roster, had in opposite Yuri RomanΓ² and outside hitter Tommaso Rinaldi their top scorers, with 9 points each, while outside hitter Mattia Bottolo came off the bench and scored 8 points.
βOur passing has been very good and I think that has helped us play that well in these first two matches,β said U.S. setter and captain Micah Christenson.
βItβs made my job a lot easier than it has to be, so all the credit to those guys. Having good depth and experience are two of our main strengths right now. We can insert guys here and there and we donβt really lose a step. We can still improve technically and in terms of connections and Iβm sure it will clean up as we continue.β
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π| 2023 VOLLEYBALL NATIONS LEAGUE
β June 08, 2023 β
Pool 1 β Week 1 β Ottawa π¨π¦
β’ 20:00 (Local Time) | Brazil β Germany 3-1 (24:26, 25:16, 19:25, 25:15)
ππΌ 11:00 (Local Time) | The Netherlands β Cuba 3-0 (28:26, 25:23, 25:18)
ππΌ 16:30 (Local Time) | Italy β USA 0-3 (15:25, 18:25, 19:25)
Pool 2 β Week 1 β Nagoya π―π΅
β’ 12:00 (Local Time) | Slovenia β Bulgaria 0-3 (24:26, 23:25, 17:25)
β’ 15:00 (Local Time) | Serbia β China 3-0 (34:32, 25:16, 25:20)
β’ 18:00 (Local Time) | Poland β Iran 3-2 (23:25, 23:25, 25:21, 25:15, 15:13)
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π| STANDINGS (updated on this day):
1. USA 6
2. Poland 5
3. Bulgaria 4
4. Argentina 3
5. Japan 3
6. Brazil 3
7. Serbia 3
8. The Netherlands 3
9. Slovenia 3
10. Canada 2
11. China 2
12. Cuba 1
13. Iran 1
14. France 0
15. Germany 0
16. Italy 0
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β¦NEXT MATCHES:
β June 09, 2023 β
Pool 1 β Week 1 β Ottawa π¨π¦
β’ 20:00 (Local Time) | Argentina β Brazil
β’ 11:00 (Local Time) | The Netherlands β Germany
β’ 16:30 (Local Time) | Italy β Cuba
Pool 2 β Week 1 β Nagoya π―π΅
β’ 13:10 (Local Time) | China β France
β’ 16:10 (Local Time) | Poland β Bulgaria
β’ 19:40 (Local Time) | Japan β Serbia
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π|QUICK LINKS
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