POLAND battled back from a two-set deficit to outlast Thailand 22-25, 27-29, 25-16, 25-16, 15-13 yesterday in Week 2 of the Volleyball Nations League at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Outside hitter Olivia Rozanski had 20 points, 16 digs and six receptions for the Poles, while Martyna Czyrnianska and Weronika Szlagowska added 18 points apiece.
Kamila Witkowska had 15 points and Klaudia Alagierska 13 as Poland bounced back from a 25-21, 25-21, 25-21 loss to Japan three days ago in the tourney hosted by the country with the help of the Philippine National Volleyball Federation.
While the Poles scored their fourth win overall, the Thais, coming off a 25-19, 25-22, 26-24 victory over Canada last Tuesday, dropped to 4-2.
In the second match, Canada hurdled Belgium 25-22, 25-21, 22-25, 25-22 win.
Alexa Gray led the Canadians with 24 points, while Kiera Van Ryk got 22 points.
Hilary Howe and Emily Maglioalso had 14 and 12 markers, respectively for Canada, which improved to 3-3.
Belgium failed to recover from a 25-19, 25-22, 25-14 defeat to China and fell to 1-5.
Britt Herbots had a team-high 29 points, while Celine Van Gestel had 16 markers for the Belgians.
“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,” Rozanski said.
“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.
Chatchu-On Moksri had 26 points, 15 receptions and 11 digs for Thailand, while Pimpichaya Kokram delivered 13 points and 12 digs.
The PNVF cancelled the exhibition match between the Philippine national men’s volleyball team and the Japan national squad yesterday due to health and safety protocols at The Arena in San Juan.
The tune-up game was scheduled before the Japanese spikers see action in the Week 2 of the VNL men’s preliminaries beginning on June 21 at the Big Dome. — Abby Toralba
