In this week female continental championships are playing in Japan in World Grand Champions Cup. It doesn’t give points for World Ranking, but tournament brings lots of emotions!
Today results:
THAILAND – DOMINICAN REPUBLIC 0-3 (23-25 21-25 23-25) MVP: Bethania De La Cruz
Thailand: Nootsara (1), Onuma (20), Pleumjit (8), Malika (4), Wilavan (6), Thatdao (7), Wanna (L), Piyanut (L) and Amporn, Tapaphaipun, Pornpun, Ajcharaporn
Dominican Republic: Marte Frica (1), De La Cruz De Peńa (25), Vargas Valdez (10), Mambru Casilla (5), Rivera Brens (15), Fersola Norberto, Castillo (L) and Arias Perez (3), Rodriguez Santos (2), Binet Stephens
The winners held a huge 12-3 advantage in the blocking category and also were better 6-2 in the serving aces charts. De la Cruz had five blocks and four aces among her 25 points while Vargas contributed 4 blocks. After a sluggish start in the first set, the Dominicans came alive with an 11-3 run and retained the momentum for the remainder of the match. The Dominican Republic displayed good teamwork in the victory, with slick passing and some very good defense. A nice dink by Onuma gave Thailand an early 3-2 lead in the opening set. A two-hand punch return by Brenda Castillo moved the Dominicans ahead 5-4. After her huge spike was saved, Prisilla Rivera responded with a dink for the Dominican Republic to cut their deficit to 7-6. Thailand led 8-6 at the first technical timeout. Gina Mambru sent a serve long to put Thailand on top 10-9. There were several extended rallies as the match remained close. With Thailand in front 15-12, the Dominicans called a timeout. A well placed spike by Kanthong Malika sent Thailand into the second TTO with a 16-12 edge. Onuma’s spike made it 20-14 and the Dominican Republic took a timeout. A spike by Thinkaow Pleumjit moved the Thais within three points of the set at 22-17.De La Cruz guided a soft return to pull the Dominicans within 22-19. A great save by libero Brenda Castillo enabled the Dominicans to keep the play going and the equalized at 22-22. De La Cruz’s soaring spike moved the Dominican Republic ahead 23-22. Thailand save one set point on a spike by Onuma for 24-23. Rivera’s spike gave the Caribbeans the set at 25-23. De La Cruz had eight points in the set. Onuma had five.
The Thais moved out to a 6-4 lead in the second set. Onuma’s spike evened the score at 7-7, before the Dominicans took an 8-7 lead into the first TTO on a spike by Rivera. Another Onuma spike made it 11-11. The Dominicans moved ahead 14-13 on an ace by De La Cruz. A quick spike by Pleumjit knotted it 15-15 and the Thais were up 16-15 at the second TTO. With the Dominican Republic ahead 20-19, Thailand called a timeout. A spike by Nuekjankg Thatdao pulled Thailand within a point at 21-20. De La Cruz continued her aerial assault with another spike and the Dominicans were within two points of the set at 23-20. A service error by Onuma gave the Dominican Republic the set at 25-21. De La Cruz had 13 points in the set.
A quick spike by Annerys Vargas spotted the Dominicans to a 4-1 lead in the third set. Thailand was up 8-7 at the first TTO in the third set as they looked to stay in the match. A spike just inside the sideline by Wilavan Apinyapong put Thailand up 11-8. A missed spike by Gina Mambru made it 13-8 for Thailand and the Dominican Republic called a timeout. The Dominicans responded with three straight points to make it 13-11 and the Thais took a timeout of their own. A nice dink by Wilavan took the score to 14-12. Pleumjit’s spike sent the Thais into the second TTO with a 16-14 advantage. A service ace by Annerys Vargas tied it at 16-16. An Onuma spike made it 20-18 fpr Thailand. A net infraction by Thailand evened it at 20-20. De La Cruz moved the Dominicans in front 21-20 with another soaring spike. Mambru’s spike put the Dominican Republic within two points of the match at 23-22. The Dominicans closed it out on a nice block.
Team Stats:
ActionsSpike pointsSpike %BlockServeDigsRec
NoteErrThailand4137%123149%14Dominicana4341%1263745%21
Team Leaders:
ActionsPointsSpike ptsSpike %BlockAceErrorsSittirak Onuma201860%118Bethania De La Cruz251652%546
UNITED STATES – BRAZIL 0-3 (24-26 24-26 20-25) MVP: Sheilla Castro
USA: Glass (3), Larson-Burbach (9), Gibbemeyer (9), Murphy (14), Hildebrand (4), Paolini (7), Banwarth (L) and Lichtmann, Hill (2), Hagglund, Fawcett
Brazil: Fabiola (4), Fernanda Garay (13), Fabiana (6), Sheilla (8), Natalia (13), Adenizia (7), Fabi (L) and Michelle (1), Monique (1), Tandara, Claudia
In a rematch of the gold medal game at the London Olympics, Brazil held off a strong challenge from the Americans. It was the third victory of the year for the South Americans in head-to-head matches with the Americans. The first two sets were close, and the U.S. appeared to have the second one in hand, before letting it slip away. Brazil exhibited strong defense at the net and showed poise under pressure on the key points throughout the contest. Fernanda Rodrigues and Natalia Pereira paced Brazil in the victory with 13 points each. Veteran Sheilla Castro, selected MVP of the match, chipped in with 8 points. Kelly Murphy scored a match-high 14 points in the loss. Brazil scored with 10 blocks -three apiece by Adenizia Silva and Fabiola Souza– to 5 by the defeated side. The winners held a 2-0 margin in aces.
A spike by Fabiana Claudino tied the score 4-4 early in the first set. The U.S. took an 8-7 lead into the first TTO on a spike by Alisha Glass.The U.S. went up 10-8 on a spike by Murphy. Brazil moved ahead 11-10 when a spike sailed long. The U.S. retook the lead 14-13 on a spike by Lauren Gibbemeyer. Pereira’s spike went wide and the U.S. was up 16-15 at the first TTO. Brazil moved ahead 17-16 on a reception error by the U.S. A missed spike by Brazil tied it 19-19 and they moved ahead on a spike by Pereira. Late in the first set there were several lengthy rallies that the fans responded to. A reception error moved the Brazilians ahead 22-20 and a spike by Rodrigues put the South Americans within two points of the set. Brazil called a timeout while leading 23-22. The U.S. fought back to equalize 24-24, but Brazil took the set 26-24 on a spike by Rodrigues. Pereira and Rodrigues had five points each in the set. Murphy led the U.S. with six.
Kristin Hildebrand sent a serve long to put Brazil up 5-4 in the second set. A dink by Adenizia Silva sent Brazil into the first TTO with an 8-5 lead. A well-placed serve by Pereira made it 10-7. Hildebrand’s dink tied it 12-12. The U.S. scored twice more to lead 14-12 and Brazil called a timeout. Pereira missed a spike at the end of a long rally and the U.S. was on top 16-14 at the second TTO. Sheila Castro launched a spike wide and the U.S. moved ahead 18-16. Both sides were substituting liberally as the set remained tight. A dink by Castro knotted it 19-19 and the U.S. called a timeout. Tandara Caixeta sent a spike long and the U.S. moved back in front 20-19. Casto tied it at 21-21 with another powerful spike. Jordan Larson-Burbach hammered a spike and the U.S. was two points from taking the set at 23-22. On set point Glass served into the net and it was tied again 24-24. The U.S. then fired a spike long and Brazil claimed the set 26-24 on another unforced error by the U.S.
The U.S. moved out to a 4-3 lead in the third set on a spike by Paolini. The U.S. boosted the margin to 8-4 at the first TTO. Murphy sent a spike long and Brazil pulled within three points at 10-7. The U.S. hit the antenna with a shot and led by just one at 10-9. Castro’s spike tied it 12-12. Brazil moved ahead 11-10 when the U.S. had trouble with a reception. U.S. coach Karch Kiraly called a timeout to try and slow the momentum the Brazilians had established. The U.S. tied it 12-12 on an unforced error by Brazil. A fine blcok by Adenizia Silva made it 15-13 for Brazil. The U.S. fired a spike long and Brazil had a 16-13 lead at the second TTO. Monique Pavao’s spike put Brazil up by five at 18-13 as the U.S. scrambled to halt the assault. Silva’s block made it 19-14 and Brazil was surging toward the finish line. The U.S. led 13-12, before Brazil reeled off seven straight points. Castro soared for a spike to give Brazil match point at 24-19. Brazil closed out the match on a service error by the U.S.
Team Stats:
ActionsSpike pointsSpike %BlockServeDigsRec
NoteErrUSA4335%504725%24Brazil4136%1024338%20
Team Leaders:
ActionsPointsSpike ptsSpike %BlockAceErrorsKelly Murphy141440%006Fernanda Garay131248%103
JAPAN – RUSSIA 3-1 (25-20 26-28 25-16 26-24) MVP: Yuki ishii
Japan: Nakamichi (1), Ishii (22), Sakoda (17), Shinnabe (12), Kimura (17), Otake (13), Sato (L) and Nagamatsu, Oumi (2), Iwasaka (1)
Russia: Pankova (1), Pasynkova (7), Morozova (5), Malykh (16), Sokolova (9), Shlyakhovaya (8), Kryuchkova (L), Malova (L) and Startseva (1), Dianskaya (3), Chaplina (7), Isaeva (8)
Japan coach Masayoshi Manabe fielded a team which included five members of the 2012 Olympic bronze medal squad against the European champions. What started out as a fairly sluggish affair in the first set heated up in the second with some exciting play from both sides. Japan took the initiative in the third set with some outstanding defense and fine passing as Russia had problems receiving and the final set proved highly entertaining with the Japan staging a late rally to claim the match. Star spiker Saori Kimura and team-mate Saori Sakoda added 17 points each for Japan in the win. Riho Otake and Risa Shinnabe chipped in with 13 and 12 points, respectively. Natalia Malykh was the top scorer for Russia with 16 points in the loss. Japan held an 11-2 advantage in service winners while Russia finished with 14 blocks to 6 by the winning side.
Japan established a 5-3 lead in the first set behind some nice serves from Kimura. Russia tied it 6-6 on a hugs spike by Anastasia Shlyakhovaya. Japan led 8-6 at the first technical time out (TTO) after a reception error by Russia. A spike by Risa Shinnabe put Japan ahead 11-9. Kimura’s crosscourt spike gave Japan a 14-13 edge. Japan was on top 16-14 at the second TTO. Kimura blasted a spike out of the TTO to make it 17-14 for Japan. A Sakoda spike and service ace by Kimura made it 19-16 and Russia took a timeout. A reception error by Natalia Dianskaya took it to 20-17. Sakoda made a fine save and Yuki Ishii blasted a spike for 21-17. Malykh’s spike drew Russia within 22-20, but she then served into the net and Japan was two points from taking the set 25-20 Japan claimed the set on a pair of nice serves by Akari Oumi. Kimura had seven points in the set, while Malykh tallied eight.
A spike by Victoria Chaplina staked Russia to a 6-2 lead in the second set. Riho Otake delivered consecutive service aces and Japan was within 7-5. Russia led 8-5 at the first TTO on a spike by Iuliia Morozova. A nice block at the net by Sakoda made it 9-7. Malykh hammered a spike and Russia led 11-9. Kimura showed off her skills with a deft dink for 12-10. Liubov Shashkova’s spike gave Russia a 15-12 margin. Japan equalised at 15-15 when Russia could not handle an Ishii spike. Russia led 16-15 at the second TTO. Ishii finished a long rally with a spike and the score was even again at 17-17. Shashkova soared for a crosscourt spike and Russia was ahead 20-18. Malykh spiked to put Russia on the verge of taking the set at 23-19. With Russia up 24-19, Japan saved five set points to level at 24-24. A block by Nana Iwasaka gave Japan set point at 25-24. Japan’s run of six straight points ended on a service error by Kimura. A dink by Chaplina gave Russia its fifth set point, but once again Japan rose to the occasion and it was 26-26. Russia finally claimed the set on its sixth try 28-26.
A service ace by Otake gave Japan a 5-2 lead in the third set. Sakoda’s block made it 7-2 and she then soared for a spike to put Japan up 8-3 at the first TTO. Russia had trouble receiving and Japan’s advantage moved to 10-3. A Kimura block and an unforced error by Russia put Japan on top 13-3. Japan was really in a groove now and a Sakoda block ballooned to lead to 15-3. Japan made some incredible saves and was up 16-3 at the second TTO. Russia pulled with 18-9 and Japan called a timeout. A block by Evegniya Startseva cut Russia’s deficit to seven at 19-12. Shinnabe’s spike stopped the Russian charge and made it 20-13. Japan made several unforced errors to open the door for Russia. Kimura’s spike put Japan on top 23-16 and Russia called a timeout. A return error gave Japan the set 25-16.
A dink by Ishii gave Japan a 6-4 edge in the fourth set. Russia tied it 7-7 after an extended rally despite a desperation dive by Kimura. Japan took an 8-7 lead into the first TTO. Otake’s spike made it 12-9. Russia fought back to level at 14-14, before a Sakoda spike made it 15-14. Japan had a 16-15 edge at the second TTO. Russia moved on top 18-17 went Kimura fired a spike wide and a reception error made it 19-17. Japan quickly tied it 19-19, but Russia responded with a spike for 20-19. Sakoda sent a spike wide and Russia was ahead 22-19. A net infraction pulled Japan within one at 23-22 and they tied it 23-23 on a reception error. Japan saved a set point on a sublime spike by Ishii. Russia botched the ensuing reception and Japan clinched the match on a block by Sakoda.
In this tournament Japan is using interesting style of play – Masayoshi Manabe called it “MB1 formation” – team use only one MB due to lacks of good middles in Japan. Saori Sakoda is used as “false MB” and she did quite good job there.
Team Stats:
ActionsSpike pointsSpike %BlockServeDigsRec
NoteErrJapan6837%6116743%23Russia4932%1424534%17
Team Leaders:
ActionsPointsSpike ptsSpike %BlockAceErrorsYuki Ishii222040%116Natalia Malykh161538%104
Descriptions: FIVB
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