The Dutch came back twice to triumph in front of a packed stadium in Bangkok
The Netherlands are among the eight pool winners in Thailand
The Netherlands and hosts Thailand fought neck and neck for the top spot in Pool A at the 2025 FIVB Volleyball Women’s World Championship and, after a dramatic five-set battle on Tuesday, the Europeans were the ones to take it.
Undefeated in their first two matches in the tournament, the teams met in the last day of Pool A matches in Bangkok and the Dutch came out on top, winning 3-2 (23-25, 25-17, 23-25, 25-10, 16-14) to keep their record clean ahead of the start of the elimination rounds.
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The victory made them surpass Thailand in the standings as both teams ended pool play with seven points, but the Dutch have three wins to their rivals’ two. Europeans and Asians will now need to wait until Wednesday to know their Round of 16 opponents on Friday – Serbia and Japan will play in Pool H, with the losers facing the Netherlands and the winners meeting Thailand.
2025 FIVB Volleyball Women’s World Championship: full schedule and results
The other match of the pool reunited already eliminated Sweden and Egypt and the Europeans came out on top, winning 3-1 (25-18, 26-28, 25-20, 25-16) to end their first-ever World Championship appearance on a high.
Team captain and outside hitter Nika Daalderop had a critical role in the Dutch comeback, producing a match-high 26 points, with 20 kills and six blocks. Middle blocker Eline Timmerman contributed another 14, with ten kills, three aces and one block.
“It was a crazy match, with so many changes,” Timmerman remarked. “We played really well in the fourth set, but we knew the tie-breaker would be different. Fortunately, we remained calm at the end and did what we had to do to win. We don’t know who we’re going to play yet, but finishing first gives us a lot of confidence going into the elimination rounds.”
Thailand had star opposite Pimpichaya Kokram as their leading scorer with 20 points (18 kills, two blocks), followed by outside hitter Sasipapron Janthawisut, who tallied 14 (13 kills, one ace).
“It was a high-level match,” outside hitter Chatchu-On Moksri highlighted. “I thought both teams played very well, and we fought until the end. We set a goal for our team of making it to the next round, and I’m happy that we accomplished it, but now we want to keep improving and go further. The crowd has been pushing a lot in the tournament, and it means a lot for us to have them on our side.”
Despite the tight score, the Dutch were superior in all statistical categories, outscoring the Thais in kills (64 to 55), blocks (15 to seven) and aces (six to four) – they also made fewer errors (25 to 27).
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