Belgium sizzled in the crunch to outplay Poland, 25-20, 15-25, 25-22, 22-25, 15-13, Saturday in Week 2 of the Volleyball Nations League Women’s Leg at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The Belgians pulled away from a 13-12 fifth-set deficit anchored on Britt Herbots before leaning on Manon Stragier and Silke Van Avermaet in the pivotal moments to clinch their second win in seven matches for four points.
Herbots fired an off-the-block spike, Stragier unloaded a powerful service ace and Van Avermaet posted a block to seal the victory in their favor. Herbots erupted for 33 points – all from attacks – to banner Belgium while Marlies Janssens fired 12 points including six attacks and five blocks. The Poles actually exploded at the attack line with 71 kills compared to Belgium’s 58, while also posting more blocks, 12-8, but the Belgians stepped up when it needed most.The Poles evened their win-loss record to 4-4 for 11 points despite the resilient efforts of Martyna Lukasik, who pumped in 25 points, and Martyna Czyrnianska, who chipped in 21 points.