It was set for a volleyball party in Lund when Sweden, led by superstar Isabelle Haak, took on Spain in the first match of the Golden League. And it was a real holm walk that the audience in the well-filled arena got to see.
Sweden started clearly the best and had the initiative for almost the entire first set, but faded at the end and invited Spain. Above all, the serve reception failed for Sweden when Spain won 28-26.
In the second set, it looked as if Sweden would end up in a serious bind when Spain led 21-16. But then fitter Hilda Gustafsson came in for the first time. Gustafsson served strongly and Sweden answered for a powerful turnaround. Eight straight balls were won by the blue and yellow and Sweden won the second set 25-22.
The match swung back and forth and in the third Spain was stronger (22-25). But in the fourth set, Sweden came back again, mainly through really good defensive play where libero Emmy Andersson dug up most of it. 25-18 to Sweden.
SVT’s expert Andrea Jacobsson believes that it was Andersson’s best match she has seen.
– I think so. Today in the second half of the match there is an obviousness in her actions that I believe a libero must have, says Jacobsson.
The match was decided in a fifth set, where Spain again took back the initiative and advanced 4-1. But then Sweden made a new turn. A very good defensive game paved the way for Sweden and when the important points needed to be scored it was of course Isabelle Haak who answered for most, 33 points, when Sweden won 15-12.
There is more to be gained from Sweden’s game and it may be needed when you face the toughest opposition in the Golden League, Belgium, on Sunday.
– It is not easy to find tempo and rhythm so quickly. We have only trained for five days together. It’s a good thing that the match was long so we got to practice a bit more, laughs Haak.