Rotterdam, July 11 - After the weak start in the World League Final Six, when they were defeated by Russia (0-3), in only 76 minutes of play this evening the Yugoslavs have scored victory over the host Dutch team, Olympic champion in 1996 in Atlanta and the European Champion in 1997 in Eindhoven.
The Yugoslavs started powerfully and thanks to a diverse and creative play, won the first set in 21 minutes.
However, when it was expected they would continue with such performance, the Yugoslav players allowed the Dutch to take the lead from the start of the second set and keep it till the end of this part of the match.
After this oscillation in the play, the Yugoslav volleyball national team coach Zoran Gajic had to make changes in the starting line-up and replace tired Batez and Kovac with Miljkovic and Vladimir Grbic and later on Vusurovic. From that moment on, "the men in blue" have played as reborn, easily winning the third set.
Nevertheless, it was only in the fourth set that our volleyball players showed all their qualities, allowing the opponent only 13 points.
World League, Final Six, Round 2, Rotterdam, Netherlands, July 11
YUGOSLAVIA - NETHERLANDS 3-1 (25-19, 15-25, 25-20, 25-13)
Set duration: 1st - 21 minutes, 2nd - 17, 3rd - 21, 4th - 17.
Ahoy Hall. Attendance: 1,500. Referees: Leuthaeuser (Germany) and Shimoyama (Japan).
YUGOSLAVIA: Batez (Points: 8), Kovac (7), Boskan, Mester (11), Mijic, Grbic Nikola (3), Grbic Vladimir (7), Geric (2), Vujevic (12), Miljkovic (8), Petkovic, Vusurovic (7).
NETHERLANDS: Latuhihin, Nummerdor (9), Gortzen (17), R. Schuil, M. Van De Goor, B. Van De Goor (10), Kooistra, E. Schuil, Blange, Van der Horst (7), Cristina, Dieleman (15).
World League, Final Six, Round 1
YUGOSLAVIA - Russia 0-3 (23-25, 20-25, 22-25)
Italy - USA 3-1 (25-19, 20-25, 25-22, 25-23)
Brasil - Netherlands 3-0 (25-21, 25-23, 25-21)
World League, Final Six, round 2, other results
Italy - Russia 3-2 (26-24, 19-25, 25-22, 13-25, 17-15)
USA - Brasil 3-2 (22-25, 19-25, 25-23, 25-23, 15-11)
Standings after two rounds
| ITALY | 2 | 2 | 0 | 6-3 | 4 |
| RUSSIA | 2 | 1 | 1 | 5-3 | 3 |
| BRASIL | 2 | 1 | 1 | 5-3 | 3 |
| YUGOSLAVIA | 2 | 1 | 1 | 3-4 | 3 |
| USA | 2 | 1 | 1 | 4-6 | 3 |
| NETHERLANDS | 2 | 0 | 2 | 1-6 | 2 |
Next matches
July 12: YUGOSLAVIA - USA, Italy - Brasil and Russia - Netherlands.
