FIVB Women’s Championship Japan2019: Cameroon Slumps, Bows Before Netherlands

Cameroon’s female volleyball team is still to find its feet at the ongoing world women’s volleyball championship in Japan. After picking up a historic win against Mexico in their first outing, the Lionesses of Volleyball have conceded their second defeat at the competition.

Wing spiker Celeste Plak, top-scorer for the Netherlands with 23 points, including 21 swashbuckling spikes, while Laetitia Moma led Cameroon’s reply with 17 points including 14 spikes.

Leading 8-4 at the first TTO, the Dutch built on this advantage with some crashing winners from Anne Buijs on the left and Plak down the middle. Plak accumulated 10 points in the first set alone with nine spikes and Juliet Lohuis notched five with three blocks.

Cameroon produced some fine moments, too, notably when Moma pounded one through the centre and Theorine Aboa ran around the setter and sent an angled spike from the right flashing across court.

With the Netherlands in control at 20-12, Cameroon called a TO before the Dutch wrapped it up 25-16 in 21 minutes.

Cameroon captain Christelle Nana revived her team with a thundering southpaw service ace early in the second set and the Africans led 8-5 at the first TTO. Cameroon setter Henriette Koulla caused further discomfort for the Dutch with a well-disguised tip-over point as the block prepared for a set.

Nicole Koolhaas and Stephanie Fotso traded monster blocks as the Africans grew into the game led by captain Nana, whose floating serve unsettled the Dutch defence.

A Moma ace brought Cameroon level at 19-19, prompting a Dutch TO, and the “Oranje” took the second set 26-24 in 32 minutes on their second set point.

The Dutch cranked it up in the third set and Cameroon were unable to reproduce their second-set fire on a consistent basis as the “Oranje” finished it 25-18.

The victory of the”Orange” puts them top of Group A with 8 points while Germany is second with 6pts, Japan 4 pts on the third spot, Mexico is fourth with 3pts and Cameroon is fifth with 3pts. Argentina is first from the bottom with no point.

Cameroon’s next opponent is host nation Japan on October 2, 2018.

By: Smart Njikang G.