NOS game•
Dutch volleyball players have lost their first game in the Nations League. The U.S. came out on top 25-19, 25-23 and 25-21.
The Americans, who finished second in last year’s Nations League, played almost flawlessly in the first set. Only the serve fumbled occasionally, giving the Netherlands eight points.
The Netherlands didn’t have much to say in set one, seeing Stijn van Tilburg injured shortly before the first match. The world number six soon took a 20-12 lead. The power difference is huge. The Orange managed to muster a few points, but the first set fell to the US 25-19.
Point Machine Abdelaziz
Following that, the Netherlands team gave a great performance to the USA. Nimir Abdelaziz scored again to score points, but the U.S. still won by a narrow margin, 25-23, in the final frame.
The third set went the same way. National coach Roberto Piazza’s men fought hard, but with three consecutive points at 22-21, the Americans went on to win in three more sets.
The Netherlands, who reached the quarter-finals of the Nations League last season, play Cuba (tomorrow), Germany (Friday) and Argentina (Sunday) in Ottawa this week.