In a pivotal match of the Volleyball Nations League (VNL) held in Apeldoorn, the Netherlands women`s team delivered a thrilling five-set performance on Saturday. Their hard-fought win against a resilient Czechia side had significant ramifications for the VNL Finals lineup, scheduled to take place in Lodz, Poland.
The immediate consequence of the Netherlands` victory (3-2) was the confirmation of Germany`s qualification for the Finals. With this result, one more spot in the elite eight was officially claimed, leaving just one vacancy left to fill in the final stages of the preliminary phase.
The battle for that sole remaining berth has now intensified, focusing on three specific teams: the United States, the Netherlands, and Czechia. As it stands, the United States occupies the precarious eighth position in the standings with a 6-4 win-loss record and 17 points. For the Americans, securing just two points from their two remaining matches will be sufficient to clinch their spot in Lodz.
Meanwhile, the Dutch team`s triumph allowed them to move past Czechia in the standings, climbing into ninth place. They currently hold a 5-6 record with 15 points. Czechia sits closely behind in tenth place, also with a 5-6 record, but with 14 points. The concluding matches of the preliminary phase will determine which of these three nations earns the final ticket to the Finals.
The match itself was a classic “rollercoaster,” featuring significant momentum swings. The Netherlands ultimately secured the victory with set scores of 25-23, 23-25, 14-25, 25-19, and 15-10. The atmosphere in Apeldoorn was electric, with the home crowd providing vocal support that the players acknowledged as a significant factor.
Offensively, the Netherlands were led by 22-year-old opposite Elles Dambrink, who registered a match-high 21 points, including an ace and a block. She received strong support from 20-year-old outside hitter Helena Kok, contributing 15 points, and 22-year-old middle blocker Britte Stuut, who added 10 points.
“It’s crazy to play – these guys [the crowd] are amazing! They really helped me through all of it,” commented 22-year-old outside hitter Iris Vos post-match. “Almost everybody played today and everybody was really important. We needed everybody and finally it worked, so it was great. We managed our block-defense and that made the difference.”
For Czechia, 20-year-old opposite Monika Brancuska was the leading scorer with 19 points. Captain and outside hitter Michaela Mlejnkova added 16 points, while 22-year-old outside Magdalena Bukovska scored 14. Middle blocker Magdalena Jehlarova made her presence felt at the net, contributing five kill blocks towards her total of 10 points.
Czechia`s libero Daniela Digrinova also praised the environment. “The game today was very special, because the gym was full. With all the people in orange, it was a great atmosphere! I saw all the people clapping… We really enjoyed it here.” Regarding their team`s performance and goals, she added, “We came here to fight as a team, to improve ourselves, and to win as much as we can. We put it as our standard goal to win two games a week and I hope we can still make it.”
This dramatic encounter highlights the intense competition in the VNL as teams battle not only for wins but also crucial points and set ratios that can determine their fate. While Germany can begin preparations for the Finals in Lodz, the conclusion of the preliminary rounds promises a gripping finish for the USA, Netherlands, and Czechia, as they compete for that coveted final qualifying spot.
