Naturally, since yesterday featured a schedule unique to this season’s events to date, so too does today. Today both the men and women play the first and second rounds of the tournament’s knockout stage — and that’s all. The women took to centre court first, naturally with a match featuring a homestanding Dutch team.
Borger/Büthe vs. Sinnema/Stiekema
The streams were a touch late getting started, so I joined this match about halfway through the first set. Despite the weather in den Haag being considerably sunnier than either yesterday or the day before, both teams still wore their cold-temperature underclothes. Bright doesn’t always mean warm. This match looked to be an immensely even encounter. As I jointed, the Dutch team had a scant 2-point lead. That held up through a string of sideouts until the Germans got one on serve to equalise at 17-all. So it continued sideout after sideout once more until the Dutch set point on 20-19, which they converted with a big block. They were audibly quite pleased — the 12 or so people in the stands, somewhat mutedly, if so.
The Germans scored the first two in set 2, but the Dutch responded in a hurry, prompting a timeout before even the first side change as they took the next four straight. The Germans quickly equalised at 4-all, and then it was sideout after sideout once more. Borger and Büthe started to pull away a little at 8-all, coming up with four on serve before a service error gave the Dutch team their sideout. It came at the technical, 12-9. Suddenly, the German team showed a dominance neither side had to that point, and in particular at the net. Behind strong (and smart) blocking play, they ran the score all the way to 19-10 before Sinnema and Stiekema finally sided out. Set point came not long after, with 21-11 the final.
Set 3 was an even exchange like the opener. It tied at 5-all after two side changes, and the deadlock continued to the third and fourth changes as well. Finally in the fifth slate-of-five, the Dutch team ran out ahead, attaining match point at the fifth side change. 14-11 was a long rally, ending with a kill and win for the Dutch team. And suddenly, the crowd seemed a little louder.
Alison/Emanuel vs. Nicolai/Lupo
Another interesting aspect of the scheduling today is that there was no clean separation between men’s and women’s play like there normally is. While this match was going on on the outer court, a women’s match (USA vs. NED) took to centre court. I found this matchup to be quite a bit more interesting.
The Italians took the first two points of the match on Lupo’s serve, thankfully not the sky-high serve he’s used in the past (I’m still wondering what in the name of Cthulu the point of that serve is). And then, at once, it was an even exchange of points. Lots of quick rallies, neither side really threatening to score on serve. The 7-5 rally broke the pattern, as Alison sprawled out for a dig/set to Emanuel who got the kill on 2. On 8-7, it looked as if Alison and Nicolai might both have been guilty of carrying faults, as they jousted above the net. The point went to Alison to draw the set even at 8-all, but just as quickly the Italians re-established their lead. The Brazilians called time after a long hit from Alison made it in 11-8 in Nicolai/Lupo’s favour. The margin held to the halfway timeout at 12-9.
It looked like the Italians were going to run away with it at one point, running all the way to a 17-12 advantage. Alison and Emanuel pulled back a couple of points but still faced set point at 20-16. They converted their reception point and then rattled off three on serve to send us to extras, last a super-strong smash by Alison at the net that rebounded off Nicolai and out. That prompted a timeout from the Italians. The timeout only iced Nicolai at the net, as his long hit handed set point to Alison and Emanuel. The run continued unabated, as Alison converted against Nicolai at the net once more, giving the set to the Brazilians, much to someone’s audible delight in the unseen crowd.
The Italians weren’t fazed, claiming the early lead in set 2. The Brazilians had a shot to knot the set at 5’s shortly after the first side change, but the long rally went to the Italians on reception. Emanuel’s hat came off in the midst of the rally, and he very nearly tripped over it later in the play. On serve at 6-4, Lupo again uncorked one of his weird little moonballs. It worked well enough on this instance — it led to a point for his side — but I still don’t understand the strategic value of a serve like that. On 9-6, Emanuel made one of those plays that reminds you he’s a legend. Diving at a bad pass, going straight at the net, he nonetheless managed to come up with a perfect set for Alison on the left side. But the Italians kept siding out, and added a couple on serve in advance of the halfway timeout at 13-8.
And then the feeds decided to be stupid again. It’s unfortunate being at the mercy of such a fickle mistress. The stream came back right as Alison slammed home match point in the 3rd at 15-11. The Italians had held on to their second set lead, but only just barely, winning by the same score the Brazilians had in set 1.
Herrera/Gavira vs. Nummerdor/Schuil
Generally, I disfavour yo-yoing between the courts, but this tournament’s schedule was conducive to it, budgeting time between one match and the one that followed it such that everybody pretty much started when they were meant to. I’ve mentioned before that I’m a fan of Nummerdor/Schuil, and likewise to them, this was the first tournament of the season for the Spanish team of Herrera/Gavira as well. They’re also a team of London Olympic alumni, with Herrera even more experienced and decorated than that (Olympic silver in Athens along with a European championship). The stage was definitely set for a good match.
It was a little while in the first set before there was an actual rally. Herrera opened the match with a service error, and Schuil followed with an ace and then an error of his own. The Dutch veterans led 4-3 on reception at the side change, but the Spaniards didn’t take long to negate this, taking their first lead at 6-5. Schuil made the Spanish block look a little silly on the rally ending 7-all, skying like Kareem Abdul-Jabbar for a hook shot (Schuil is by far the tallest of the four players in this match). He made them look silly again on the rally ending 10-9 in the Dutch team’s favour, with a two-handed rejection that was less a block than simply a push-back. The Dutch team led 11-10 on serve at the technical.
Nummerdor and Schuil attained a little separation between the technical and the fourth side change, gaining the match’s first 3-point advantage at 15-12. It was not to last, as the Spanish team went on a run of their own after the fourth change, prompting the Dutch boys to call time down 17-16. It was timely — Gavira’s serve coming back found nothing but net, and then Nummerdor’s kill on his serve put the Dutch team up a point again. Herrera had a brief chat with the up official about something prior to the side change at 18-17. Not really sure what. Nummerdor and Schuil reached set point at 20-19, but could not convert. At 20-all, Schuil played nifty shot on 2, catching the Spaniards by surprise to bring up another set point. This one did go to the Dutch team, as the hit from across the net landed just wide.
Nummerdor and Schuil took the early lead in set 2, with a hitting error from the Spanish and then some nifty transition play of their own putting them ahead 5-2 at the first side change. Herrera got one point back with a block at the net, and Gavira got the other back with an ace seconds later. Despite the small swings, this was a pretty classic ‘game of inches’ beach volleyball set. The Dutch team took an inch to try to make it a mile, leading 11-10 on reception at the technical.
And the Spaniards clawed and fought. There was no ‘run’ to point to, but by the time it was time to change sides again, they’d equalised at 14-all. Another on serve after the change gave them a lead for the first time in a while. Nummerdor and Schuil had a chance to get the lead back on their serve at 15-all, and I hate to say it — but I think a younger team might have done it. Nummerdor was flat on his belly having dived to save a rough pass, and Schuil’s attempt to set him was a little tight to the net. I was mildly surprised the Spanish blocker (Herrera, I think) didn’t try to slam it home, but he didn’t really have to. The ball fell harmlessly before Nummerdor could get up.
The Dutch called time down 17-15, and then came up with a remarkable equaliser two points later. Schuil soft-blocked the Spanish hit, but Nummerdor still had to dive to just barely get the dig. Schuil then almost absentmindedly flipped a free ball over with one hand — a free ball that fell in. That got a rousing cheer from the crowd, but Herrera and Gavira sided out on the next rally and got a couple on serve after the side change to reach set point at 20-17. They converted, but I’m really not sure how. Nummerdor’s hit appeared to go into the block, which then soared high and landed out on the opposite side. For some reason, the point still went to the Spaniards.
Nummerdor and Schuil again took an early lead in set 3, but again it didn’t last very long. It was 5-all at the second side change. Then on 7-6, Herrera and Gavira played a great point. The dig of Nummerdor’s swing went pretty far wide, but Herrera tracked it down and set Gavira perfectly for a shot that snuck in left-back on the Dutch side. Down 8-6, the Dutch team called time. It did nothing to get the Spaniards out of rhythm, as it was almost immediately 9-6 on the serve. The Dutch team did (barely) manage to legally return the serve, but they did not dig the subsequent attack. The first rally after the side change, on 9-6, was a long one, at last ending with a roll-shot kill for Nummerdor. The shorter of the Dutch pair followed this up with a service ace of his own, and it was time for the Spaniards to call timeout.
Schuil made a bit of a mistake on the first play after the timeout. Nummerdor’s serve elicited an overpass, which just….fell in. Schuil, who was tight at the net at the time, didn’t appear to attempt to go for it. But he got a big cheer from the home fans for his block on the rally ending 11-all, as this one most definitely went down to the wire. Herrera and Gavira had a shot to get the point back on the 12-11 rally, as the ball crossed the net a few times, but Nummerdor’s terminating swing to again tie the set ensured the fans would have something to cheer about. On 13-12, Schuil’s hit from the right pin was ruled to cross outside of it, giving the Spaniards match point.
Their attempt on service flew long, and they did not convert on reception either, as Nummerdor’s big kill sent us to extras. He got another kill on 14-all to give his side match point, and the crowd were loving it! The Spaniards staved off this match point, to necessitate a sixth side change, and then the next as well on 16-15. From 16-all, the two sides traded service errors. A seventh side change came with the Dutch up 18-17, but they didn’t convert that match point, either. A smart roll shot from Nummerdor gave them another match point on 19-18, but the Spaniards again saved it. Nummerdor and Schuil made the risky choice of letting a serve go on 19-all, but it did land ever so slightly long, giving them match point once again on 20-19. And it really looked like they had it — Gavira’s pass went badly wide, leading Herrera to have to dive for it. Which he did, and he came up with a picture-perfect set, which Gavira hit home for the kill.
Following the eighth side change, at 20-all, the Dutch were gifted another match point with Gavira’s wide serve, but they yet again failed to convert. On 22-21, the Spanish serve reception was again a little dodgy. This time, they couldn’t bail themselves out, and at just shy of an hour in total length, Nummerdor and Schuil finished off a three-set thriller with a stuff block at the net.
Dalhausser/Rosenthal vs. Gabathuler/Weingart
Of course that match going as long as it did put centre court a little behind schedule. Thankfully, though I had a compelling team (if not a compelling match) to watch without switching.
And to be sure, this first set was every bit the mismatch one would have expected it to be. It’s the first time in four tournaments that Dalhausser and Rosenthal haven’t fast-tracked to round 2 of the knockout stage, so I had felt yesterday that whatever team of plebes that drew them were probably going to be in over their heads. And so these Swiss were early on. Dalhausser’s menacing presence at the net seemed just a little too much for them to deal with, whether it was in terms of actual scoring blocks or simply in terms of forcing shots with too much angle or pace on them that inevitably landed wide or long.
The Americans led by a touchdown when Gabathuler and Weingart called time, 10-3, and they quickly reached another football score (14-3) with the Swiss unable to do much of anything about it. They did finally get the sideout there, and even added one on serve, but evident to say — the damage was done. If the Americans let off the gas a bit to permit the Swiss to close to within 15-6 at the technical, they put the hammer down once more following it. A fourth side change was just barely necessary, as the Americans finished it off on 21-8. Yow.
Suffice it to say, Gabathuler and Weingart put up much more of a fight in set 2. They led 8-6 at the second side change. They expanded their lead to 10-7 shortly afterward, signifying a pretty remarkable reversal of fortunes from set 1. Rosenthal and Dalhausser set to peeling back the deficit, closing to within a point at the technical. The Swiss maintained their sideout advantage, even facing down Dalhausser’s block at the net on 14-13 (the Thin Beast — who interestingly enough was born in Switzerland — was called for a net fault).
Finally, the Americans equalised on 15-all, with the Swiss attempt at a roll shot failing to clear the net. On the Swiss serve at 17-16, it looked for a moment like they might get the sideout advantage back, but Dalhausser came up with a great set from flat on his belly which Rosenthal snuck home in left-back on the other side. The Americans took their first lead of the set at 18-17, but the Swiss got the equaliser and then a let-ace to go back up a point. They reached set point at 20-19, and converted on their second attempt. It’s quite a thing to come back and win a set after being demolished in the first.
The Americans re-asserted themselves in the decider, taking the first three points for an almost instant advantage. I was impressed with their synergy and versatility on the rally ending 3-0, as Dalhausser wound up getting the kill off a good set from Rosenthal — usually their ‘system’ is just the opposite. They extended their lead to 5-1 after the side change when the Swiss were called for a double, but Rosenthal gave the point back with a seemingly pretty avoidable hitting error on the rally ending 5-3.
The Swiss kept it tight at the second change, 6-4, and you can be sure Phil and Sean weren’t counting their chickens just yet. Gabathuler and Weingart drew equal at 7-all, and the score remained tied at the fourth side change. Dalhausser broke the deadlock on the Americans’ serve at 11-10 with a dandy one-handed block to give his side the sideout advantage. On 12-11, Dalhausser took a bit of a chance setting Rosenthal as the latter fell to the sand (rather than just sending it over on 2 himself). It proved to be the right call, as Sean scampered to his feet and got the kill. Leading 13-12 on reception at the fifth side change, the Americans called time.
Any attempt to ice the server was fruitless. The Swiss drew even at 13’s on their first serve after the timeout. A subsequent error did hand the Americans their first match point at 14-13, but that was not the end of it. The 14-13 rally was an exciting one, with great instinctual defence on display by both sides. At the end, Dalhausser was just unable to send over a free-ball. Another Swiss serving error on 14-all gave the Americans another match point, but Rosenthal paid the error right back with one of his own. An attacking error for Rosenthal gave the Swiss team match point at 16-15, and in a stunner, they converted to eliminate the vaunted Americans.
Fijalek/Prudel vs. Saxton/Schalk
Nice to get to see a Canadian team on centre court. This match started off with an even exchange of points until Prudel’s ace on 6-5 gave the Poles the first sideout advantage. Then it was an even exchange again. I suppose that seems a pathetically lax description, but there’s not a whole lot to be said about sideout-after-sideout. The Poles led 11-10 on reception at the technical timeout. Again the even exchange went on, until the Poles’ serve at 18-16. It appeared to land just long, but it was called in by the flagger. Saxton protested with the up referee, but the call stood. Fijalek and Prudel reached set point at 20-17. The Canadians staved off two, but not the third, and the Poles claimed set 1 21-19.
The Poles claimed the first three points of set 2, despite Saxton and Schalk teaming up for some terrific (but ultimately fruitless) defence on the first of those. The Canadians called time down three and responded with four straight themselves to go out ahead at the first side change. But ultimately, the Poles were probably just a step or two better. It didn’t take them long to equalise and then take the lead themselves, and they went ahead 12-9 at the halfway point. A long rally on 14-11 went to the Poles on serve to put them up four. Saxton and Schalk took back one point with a service ace, but still lost 21-18 to end the match in two sets.
I took a little break from coverage here, and came back a couple of hours later for some women’s action.
Keizer/Van Iersel vs. Ukolova/Khomyakova
I’m still trying to figure out who this Russian duo are. I liked what I saw of them late last year, but this year, in fuller fields, their results haven’t been as good. Certainly a date with the tournament #1 seeds represented a chance to put a big feather in their….ehh, bikinis?
The match started with a service ace for the Russians (who aren’t exactly easy to tell apart even with crystal-clear pictures), which Keizer repaid in kind on her serve at 2-all. She added another to bring us to the side change at 5-2. A hitting error from the Russian side extended the run to 6-2 in their disfavour, and they called time there. The Dutch team added another before the Russians sided out. The scores stabilised around the second side change, with the Dutch team leading by 2 on reception. Keizer showed some nice instincts on the 11-8 rally to score the kill and put the Dutch side up four. They led 12-9 on reception at the technical timeout. The top-seeded Dutch team added to their advantage significantly after the timeout. With Keizer on serve, they claimed five straight points to break open a once-tight set. They reached set point at 20-13, and put it away on reception.
Set 2 was much tighter at first. It was an even split of the first 18 points, but at that point the Dutch side scored three straight to take the lead. The last was a picture-perfect cut shot that was just indefensible. And they put it away shortly after the halfway timeout, as the run continued. The music people played the charmingly on-point “That’s the Way (Uh-Huh Uh-Huh) I Like It” after the points that put Keizer and Van Iersel put four and then five. They made it six by the end, 21-15.
Fijalek/Prudel vs. Brouwer/Meeuwsen
And then it was back to the men. Today’s schedule was kind of strange. Good thing it only takes about 8 seconds to change the height of the net. This was the second match of the day for the Poles — I wrote up the first — and the first for the Dutch team, coming at 7pm local time. It kinda made me wonder if being on the sidelines that long might have an adverse effect, though if so, it would be even more so in the final match to come.
There was no rust apparent in the early going, as Brouwer and Meeuwsen took four of the first five points, prompting their opponents to call time. The margin was the same at the side change, 5-2. Fijalek and Prudel pulled back a point in the interim, but still trailed 8-6 at the second change. Tough serving pressure turned into solid defence by Meeuwsen on 10-7, giving himself an easy hitting chance to push the Dutch side to a four-point lead. On 11-7, it looked like Brouwer had a kill on an over-dig from the Polish side, but he was called for a net fault instead. The crowd were quite displeased, and Brouwer protested, but the homestanding team still led 12-9 at the technical.
Fijalek and Prudel came agonisingly close to an equaliser, claiming the first two points after the timeout, but Brouwer and Meeuwsen took four of the next five to lead 16-12 at the fourth side change. It seemed like the set was out of reach, as the four-point lead held to 18-14, but a kill for a sideout and two straight service aces and it was all of a sudden just a one-point deficit again. But the elastic snapped, or the Poles ran out of road, whatever you want to call it. The Dutch team finished off the set 21-19.
Some patriotic Dutch fan kept waving a flag in front of the camera at the outset of set 2, so I kind of only caught bits and pieces. The Poles took a 6-3 lead, prompting Brouwer and Meeuwsen’s timeout. There was no substantial run, they just sorta inched their way there. I then lost my connection for a few minutes, and it looks like there was a substantial run in the time I missed. Fijalek and Prudel reached set point at 20-12 and finished off the drubbing on their first attempt.
The Dutch team’s second-set flatness seemed reversed early in set 3. They took a 4-1 lead at the first side change, which was extended by the Poles calling timeout. The Poles came equal at 6’s with a service ace, one the Meeuwsen caught on the fly on something like a baseball slide (going after Brouwer’s wayward pass). It looked cool, but you’re not exactly allowed to do that in volleyball. The Dutch team spent their timeout there, and it was a race to 9.
Brouwer sided the Dutch team out on 7-6, and then Meeuwsen came up large at the net to give them the two-point lead. A point on their serve on 9-7 brought them to a 3-point lead. At 12-10, the Poles clawed back a point on their own serve, but they weren’t able to erase Brouwer and Meeuwsen’s sideout advantage on the next ball. The Dutch team reached match point at 14-12, and just about kept their service point alive with some diving defence. Tough to get the ball back over the net when both team members are on their bellies, though.
Fijalek’s block on 14-13 sent us to extras in the 3rd. Meeuwsen beat that block on 14-all to give the Dutch team their third chance at match point, but Fijalek staved that one off, too. The fourth attempt at match point ended the same way, so too the fifth. Brouwer had a shot to put that one away after cleanly digging the Polish hit, but his own return went wide. Then the Poles got their first chance at match point at 18-17 following a kill by Prudel, but Brouwer staved that one off. Any momentum was quickly lost, with a service error giving the Poles another shot to finish the match off. This was the winner, as Meeuwsen’s middle attack landed wide.
Meppelink/Van Gestel vs. Liliana/Baquerizo
Just a few words here, as I was kinda fading as this match went on despite the good and boisterous crowd that were on hand. The teams traded 21-17 sets to begin with, the Dutch team winning the first and the Spaniards the second. Set 3 went right down to the wire, with neither side leading by more than 2 at any time. Lili and Elsa wound up sending the home fans home unhappy when a block at the net spelled doom 16-14 for the Corrientes champs. After getting the full compliment of teams (eight) as per being the host nation, the Dutch have only two left — Van der Vlist/Wesselink and Keizer/Van Iersel. It’s got to be something of a disappointment.
Full Day Three results
Men’s knockout stage
Round One
#2 Alison/Emanuel (BRA) d. #12 Nicolai/Lupo (ITA) (22-20, 20-22, 15-11)
#7 Fijalek/Prudel (POL) d. #28 Saxton/Schalk (CAN) (21-19, 21-18)
#9 Ricardo/Álvaro Filho (BRA) d. #15 Spijkers/Varenhorst (NED) (21-18, 21-15)
#19 Kapa/McHugh (AUS) d. #6 Erdmann/Matysik (GER) (21-16, 17-21, 15-13)
#22 Huber/Seidl (AUT) d. #25 Sorokins/T Smedins (LAT) (28-26, 22-20)
#1 Nummerdor/Schuil (NED) d. #29 Herrera/Gavira (ESP) (22-20, 17-21, 23-21)
#13 Dollinger/Windscheif (GER) d. #17 Fuchs/Kaczmarek (GER) (23-21, 18-21, 15-4)
#26 Gabathuler/Weingart (SUI) d. #3 Dalhausser/Rosenthal (USA) (8-21, 22-20, 17-15)
Round Two
Alison/Emanuel d. #32 Kantor/Losiak (POL) (18-21, 21-17, 15-5)
Fijalek/Prudel d. #8 Brouwer/Meeuwsen (NED) (19-21, 21-12, 20-18)
#5 Gibb/Patterson (USA) d. Ricardo/Álvaro Filho (21-16, 21-15)
#4 Pedro/Bruno (BRA) d. Kapa/McHugh (23-21, 17-21, 15-8)
Huber/Seidl d. #14 Sidorenko/Dyachenko (KAZ) (13-21, 21-14, 15-12)
#11 Kadziola/Szalankiewicz (POL) d. Nummerdor/Schuil (16-21, 21-12, 15-9)
#10 J Smedins/Samoilovs (LAT) d. Dollinger/Windscheif (21-19, 19-21, 15-12)
#18 Doppler/Horst (AUT) d. Gabathuler/Weingart (21-13, 21-17)
Tomorrow’s schedule
Alison/Emanuel vs. Fijalek/Prudel
Gibb/Patterson vs. Pedro/Bruno
Huber/Seidl vs. Kadziola/Szalankiewicz
J Smedins/Samoilovs vs. Doppler/Horst
Women’s Pool Play
Round One
#5 Ukolova/Khomyakova (RUS) d. #19 Nystrom/Nystrom (FIN) (22-20, 21-13)
#13 Schwaiger/Schwaiger (AUT) d. #18 Forrer/Vergé-Dépré (SUI) (23-21, 21-19)
#26 Van der Vlist/Wesselink (NED) d. #17 Fendrick/Hochevar (USA) (21-14, 22-20)
#28 Sinnema/Stiekema (NED) d. #15 Borger/Büthe (GER) (21-19, 11-21, 15-11)
#22 Bonnerova/Hermannova (CZE) d. #20 Dubovcova/Nestarcova (SVK) (21-17, 21-16)
#9 Liliana/Baquerizo (ESP) d. #16 Bawden/Clancy (AUS) (21-19, 21-17)
#3 Holtwick/Semmler (GER) d. #11 Zumkehr/Heidrich (SUI) (24-22, 21-11)
#7 Maria/Agatha (BRA) d. #24 Köhler/Schumacher (GER) (21-16, 21-19)
Round Two
#1 Keizer/Van Iersel (NED) d. Ukolova/Khomyakova (21-14, 21-15)
#8 Talita/Taiana (BRA) d. Schwaiger/Schwaiger (21-19, 14-21, 15-9)
Van der Vlist/Wesselink d. #12 Ludwig/Walkenhorst (GER) (12-21, 21-17, 15-13)
#4 Cicolari/Menegatti (ITA) d. Sinnema/Stiekema (21-13, 21-9)
#14 Maria Clara/Carolina (BRA) d. Bonnerova/Hermannova (21-14, 21-19)
Liliana/Baquerizo d. #6 Meppelink/Van Gestel (NED) (17-21, 21-17, 16-14)
Holtwick/Semmler d. #10 Lili/Seixas (BRA) (18-21, 21-19, 15-9)
Agatha/Maria d. #2 Kessy/Ross (USA) (21-13, 21-17)
Tomorrow’s schedule
Keizer/Van Iersel vs. Talita/Taina
Van der Vlist/Wesselink vs. Cicolari/Menegatti
Maria Clara/Carolina vs. Liliana/Baquerizo
Holtwick/Semmler vs. Maria/Agatha
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