NETHERLANDS NAIL EUROPEAN CHAMPION POLAND

European Qualification Tournament for 2005 FIVB Grand Prix

Angelina Grün (GER) attacking the Romanian block

Ankara, Turkey, September 21, 2004. The Netherlands caused a major upset on the opening day of the 2005 FIVB World Grand Prix European Qualification Tournament here in Ankara, Turkey by defeating European Champion Poland 3-1. The Dutch team showed great fighting spirit and really deserved the victory. Other first day matches included host Turkey defeating Bulgaria 3-0 whilst Germany also won 3-0 against Romania.

Six European women’s top teams will be fighting this week for the three places in the 2005 FIVB World Grand Prix. Whilst Italy has already qualified for the main phase of this major women’s volleyball competition as the organizer of the final next year and Russia was recently excluded by the FIVB to participate in the qualification event, the six teams single round robin tournament is a completely open event. Only the three best teams of the qualification event will earn a ticket for the 2005 FIVB World Grand Prix.
Netherlands showed that surprises can be expected by winning 3-1 against European Champion Poland. It was a close victory for the 2003 European Championship semifinalist, who won three sets with only a difference of two points. The victory marked a great start for the new Dutch coach Avital Selinger, who took over the job in the Netherlands from Italian Angiolino Frigoni earlier this year. Selinger, Olympic silver medallist in 1992 as player and winner of the Indesit European Champions’ League as coach of the Spanish team TENERIFE Marichal this year, coached his first official match for his country. The Dutch spiker Francien Huurman was the best player of the match with 22 points, even outplaying Polish star Malgorzata Glinka, Europe’s best volleyball player of 2003, who made 20 points.
In other matches, Germany made a flying start by defeating Romania in three straight sets. The only Olympic competitor present here in Ankara claimed the victory in just over an hour against the last minute team who replaced Russia. Angelina Grün was the best scorer for the European Championship bronze medalist with 21 points. By winning against Bulgaria Turkey didn’t disappoint the fans who were gathered in the ASKI arena. It wasn’t an easy match for the Vice European Champion, who finally claimed the victory in three straight sets, as the Bulgarian team made life extremely difficult for the Turkish team at certain stages. The key to the Turkish victory was extremely good play at the close of each set.
Action at the 2005 FIVB World Grand Prix European Qualification Tournament will continue on Wednesday, when three more matches are scheduled. One of the key clashes will be the match between Turkey and Netherlands, who both won their opening match.

2005 FIVB World Grand Prix European Qualification Tournament in Ankara, Turkey

Results 21 September

POL - NED 1-3 23-25, 25-27, 25-21, 23-25

ROM - GER 0-3 15-25, 19-25, 19-25

BUL - TUR 0-3 18-25, 17-25, 18-25

Match schedule 22 September (all times are local: CET +1)

1400 POL - ROM

1600 GER - BUL

1830 NED - TUR

Please visit www.voleybol.org.tr for live scores and statistics.

Confédération Européenne de Volleyball

NETHERLANDS NAIL EUROPEAN CHAMPION POLAND

European Qualification Tournament for 2005 FIVB Grand Prix