Belgium's block and serve saw them past the Russians
Catania, Italy, July 18, 2015 - Belgium beat Russia 3-0 (25-20, 25-22, 28-26) FIVB World Grand Prix on Saturday.
Alexandra Pasynkova and Nataliya Goncharova spiked well for Russia in set one, while Laura Heyrman and Els Vandesteene and grounded spikes effectively for the Belgians. But it was Belgium’s serve and block that proved to be the difference: they gained far more points in those areas, and took set one 25-20; and the second set followed the same pattern with Belgium prevailing 25-22.
Russia regrouped for set three, with Irina Fetisova adding to the scoring, and led 8-5 at the first TTO. But with Belgium still defending the better of the two sides, they steeled their nerves and got back into it. Charlotte Leys added to the attacking of Heyrman and Vandesteene, and Belgium clung on and won the set 28-26, and the match.
Vandesteene was the match’s top scorer with 14 points, while Fetisova got 12 for Russia. Read the live text commentary from this match
here