Lise Van Hecke scores 17 points against Puerto Rico.
Bari, Italy, September 28, 2014 – Belgium qualified for the second round of the 2014 FIVB Women's Volleyball World Championship after defeating Puerto Rico in three sets (25-20, 25-17, 25-19) in their last pool D match at PalaFlorio Sunday evening.Making their first appearance in the World Championship in 36 years, the Belgian team finished third in pool D behind China and Japan with nine points from three wins and two losses.Key points:· Belgium had 7 service points to Porto Rico’s one. · Porto Rico played the 45th matches of the World Championship.· Lise Van Hecke was the top scorer in the match with 17 points.
Frauke Dirickx's ace opened the match. A “pipe” of Lise Van Hecke put Belgium 8-4 ahead at the first TTO (8-4). After a technical timeout, Karina Ocasio tied the score at 11-11. Els Vandesteene got through with a block to make it 16-14 at the second TTO. Van Hecke helped Belgium improve their lead to 21-16. Karina Ocasio was blocked and the Yellow Tigers won the first set (25-20).
Belgium found a rhythm midway through the second set, pulling ahead 10-6 on Laura Heyrman's attack. Yellow Tigers won the second set with a Porto Rican touch of the net (25-17) and secured their berth in the second phase.
In the third set Mieles' team started strongly (4-0) but Belgium came back to draw it at 6-6 and take the lead 8-6 at the first TTO. Vandesteene and Van Hecke made two straight kills to put their team ahead 22-17 and took the set and the match (25-19).