CANADA, POLAND BOOK BOUNCE BACK WINS
CANADA, Poland booked bounce back victories as action in Week 2 of the Volleyball Nations League turned feverish on Thursday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Canada recorded its first victory on Philippine soil—a 25-22, 25-21, 22-25, 25-22 conquest of Belgium— and so did Poland—a hard-earned 22-25, 27-29, 25-16, 25-16, 15-13 win over Thailand, 22-25, 27-29, 25-16, 25-16, 15-13.
Alexa Grey had 24 points, including the match-winner, and collected 10 digs, while Kiera Van Ryk had two service aces to finish with 22 points that went with 11 digs for the
Canadians who improved to 3-3 wonlost from Week 1.
Canada produced a better effort this time, unlike in their Quezon City debut against Thailand the other day, especially with its attacks.
“I was really excited on what our team did today,” Grey said. “I thought we did our game plan and this is a big win and big three points for us moving forward in the tournament and I’m just proud of the way we really battled today.”
Hilary Howe and Emily Maglio also played big for the Canadians with 14 and 12 points, respectively.
The Belgians suffered their fifth loss in six matches.
The short-handed Poles staved off an early Thailand uprising to send the match to the limit.
“It feels great that we won the match. We know that they (Thais) are a really good team so we have to do our best,” said outside hitter Olivia Rozanski, who took the scoring mantle for Poland with 20 points, including two blocks, 16 digs and six receptions.
“I’m really happy that we won and we showed that we too, are really a good team and we can fight until the end,” she added.
Poland and Thailand now sport similar 4-2 records.
Martyna Czyrnianska and Weronika Szlagowska each scored 18 points, Kamila Witkowska had 15 points while Klaudia Alagierska also logged double-digit scoring for the 10th-ranked team in the world with 13 points.
Chatchu-on Moksri had 26 points, including five blocks, 15 receptions and 11 digs, while Pimpichaya Kokram added 13 points and 12 digs before sitting out the fourth set due to injury for the 14th-ranked Thais.