With star reverse spiker Nimir Abdel-Aziz sidelined for the 2025 FIVB Males’s Volleyball World Championship, the Netherlands finds itself in unfamiliar but promising territory.
Abdel-Aziz, a longtime member of the Dutch nationwide crew, steered the squad by means of quite a few worldwide tournaments, together with the 2022 World Championship the place they swept the elimination spherical however bowed out within the Spherical of 16 after falling to Ukraine.
The 33-year-old ace opted to take day without work to get well, leaving the Netherlands to now financial institution on youth of their marketing campaign on the ongoing 2025 version in Manila.
However his absence has develop into a silver lining, permitting youthful gamers to step up as world No. 19 Netherlands seems to make waves on the worldwide stage.
“A brand new probability. A brand new probability to be not solely depending on one wonderful participant and to essentially do it with this crew collectively,” Netherlands participant Tom Koops stated.
“And typically we simply have so many that may step up our sport and may get us to regular degree, however that’s adequate so we will excel.”
That potential was on full show of their opening sport in opposition to Qatar on Saturday, because the Dutch overcame a Set 3 hiccup to drag off a 25-18, 25-23, 26-28, 25-23 win behind Michiel Ahyi and Koops.
The 27-year-old Ahyi led the cost with 20 factors constructed on 14 assaults, three blocks, and three aces, whereas the 24-year-old Koops added 17 markers on 15 assaults and two aces.
One other 24-year-old standout, Bennie Tuinstra, chipped in 15 factors.
“In fact we’re comfortable as a result of we’re coming from plenty of losses, you recognize, we obtained kicked out within the VNL and to win a sport with our play that’s respectable however not steady sufficient is a present of progress so it’s good. It was optimistic,” Koops added.
—JKC, GMA Built-in Information