The European team triumphs over Egypt, concluding their World Championship journey on a high note.
Volleyball sensation Isabelle Haak was the driving force behind Sweden`s groundbreaking achievement, scoring a remarkable 39 points. This stellar performance sealed Sweden`s first-ever win in the FIVB Women`s World Championships. Concluding their debut campaign in Thailand, the European squad defeated Egypt in a thrilling four-set encounter in Bangkok. This victory placed them third in their pool with a 1-2 record and 4 points, allowing them to depart on a positive note, while Egypt concluded their run without a win. The top spot in the pool was set to be determined by a clash between undefeated hosts Thailand and the Netherlands.
Haak`s 39-point tally included an impressive 34 spikes, executed with a 56% attack efficiency, along with three crucial kill blocks and two aces. Her dominant display was central to Sweden`s 3-1 victory (25-18, 26-28, 25-20, 25-16), making her the undisputed top scorer of the match.
Sweden demonstrated superiority across key scoring metrics, outperforming Egypt significantly with 14-2 in blocks, 75-56 in spikes, and 3-1 in aces. Despite this, the European side also conceded a high number of unforced errors, totaling 23 compared to Egypt`s nine. Contributing to Sweden`s offense, Isabelle`s older sister and team captain, Anna Haak, added 17 points, including two blocks and an ace. Opposite hitter Maya Tabron also had a strong showing, contributing 15 spiking points with a 58% success rate.
“This victory held immense significance for us. It was a challenging tournament, yet incredibly enjoyable, and we gained valuable experience. Achieving our first-ever World Championship win is a historic moment for Sweden. While we wished we had played better in our previous match, I believe we can be truly proud of our accomplishment,” Isabelle Haak commented. She also expressed optimism for the future, noting, “With volleyball gaining popularity in Sweden, we have many promising young players, and I envision future generations only getting better.”
For the Egyptian team, four players managed to reach double-digit scores. Outside hitter Nada Ahmed Houssameldein led their offense with 18 points. She was supported by 20-year-old opposite Toqaallah Eassa (14 points), outside hitter Mariam Metwally Mohamed Morsy (13 points), and middle blocker Dalia Morshedy Ashraf (11 points).
Jasper Thornfield 
Oliver Wrenwick