Netherlands has all the answers to Thai challenge

The Netherlands has beaten Thailand 3-0 (25-14, 25-16, 25-20) in a match many believed would go a long way towards deciding who will go to the 2016 Olympics.

Thailand had this match marked down as one it had to win to guarantee a top four finish this week, while the Dutch needed to get back in the winners’ circle after being well beaten by Korea on Sunday.

It didn’t start well for Thailand, but after a slow start (1-5 down), they clawed their way back into the set.

For the middle stages of the set it was close, but when the Dutch put the foot on the accelerator, the Thais were unable to go with them. Serve receive was a problem for the team from Asia, but unforced errors were a bigger concern – seven to one in the 25-14 opening set.

If Dutch opposite Lonneke Sloetjes does not win highest point scorer in Japan this week, she will be very close to it. After a quiet opening set, the 191cm 25-year-old slipped her game up a gear in the second set, taking her individual tally to …

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