China celebrates advancing to the gold medal match
Cordoba / Boca del Rio, Mexico, July 22- China and Russia will clash on Sunday in the gold medal match of the FIVB Women’s U20 World Championship at Cordoba, Mexico.
China prevailed with a strong performance over Turkey, while Russia reached the final match undefeated after a thriller tie-break win over Japan in the second semifinal.
The last day of competition features:
Gold medal match
China v Russia
Bronze medal match
Turkey v Japan
5th place
Poland v Brazil
7th place
United States v Bulgaria
9th place
Italy v Serbia
11th place
Argentina v Dominican Republic
13th place
Peru v Mexico
15th place
Egypt v Cuba
Semifinals 1-4
China was the first to move into the gold medal match showing a great strategy subduing Turkey’s offense, with determination in every move they made. Asian champions won 3-2 (25-20, 25-21, 25-17) led by Han Wu with 16 points on 15 kills; Xiaoqing Cai contributed with 13 points on two aces.
As the match developed it seemed that Turkish players gave up to China’s strong attacks, allowing 26 unforced errors while China limited there’s to 15. Turkey led in blocks 7-6 and China in aces 5-4.
Russia prevailed in a tie-break thriller to Japan 3-2 (32-30, 25-19, 23-25, 23-25, 15-12). It was an exhausting match that began with an intense first set, predicting the level for the sets to come. Japan’s consistent defense finally broke Russia’s towering blockers up to the third set.
Russia led with impressive 19-3 margin in blocking, led by Angelina Lazarenko with 23 points on 17 kills and five blocks. Supporting Russia’s victory were Anna Kotikova with 17 points on 12 kills and four blocks, Maria Vorobyeva with 16 points on 14 kills and Elizaveta Kotova with 11 points. Ai Kurogo and Shiori Aratani led Japan’s offense with 20 points apiece, joined by 17 points by Miyuki Horie.
Classification 5-8
Battling for fifth place are Poland and Brazil. These two teams met in the second round with the Europeans taking an easy straight set victory.
Poland defeated United States 3-1 (25-14, 25-16, 20-25, 25-20) with Martyna Lukasik on four aces of 18 points and Natalia Murek on 14 kills of 16 points. Poland overwhelmed USA with their 15-4 advantage in serves.
Brazil struggled in the first set to prevail over Bulgaria 3-1 (22-25, 25-10, 25-17, 25-14) balancing their attack between Karyna Malachias with 16 points, Karina Barbosa added 13 points, while Tainara Lemes and Diana Duarte contributed with 12 points each. It was Brazil 13-4 advantage in blocking that made the difference over Bulgaria.
Classification 9-12
Italy will meet Serbia for ninth position. Italy beat Argentina and Serbia prevailed to Dominican Republic.
Italy beat Argentina 3-0 (25-21, 25-17, 25-20) with 10-2 advantage in blocking. Elena Pietrini and Alexandra Botezat led Italy with 10 points apiece. Anahi Tosi once again was Argentina’s top scorer, with 15 points. Italy scored on 22 opponent errors. Italy defeated Argentina also in straight sets in the first round of the competition.
Serbia distributed their offence between Katarina Lazovic with 16 points on 14 kills, Jovana Kocic with 15 points on 4 blocks and Vanja Bukilic with 14 points on 12 kills to defeat Dominican Republic 3-0 (25-18, 25-20, 25-23). Serbian blockers, with 11-7 margin, took care of Dominicans top spikers to manage their straight set victory. Madeline Guillen topped Dominicans scorers with 10 points.
Classification 13-16
Peru and Mexico, winners in their respective matches, will face for 13th position.
Ysabella Sanchez with 14 points and Nicole Abreu with 11 points carried Peru into defeating Egypt 3-0 (25-19, 25-13, 25-14). Peru controlled the actions with better blocking on 10-1 margin and 8-5 on aces over Egypt.
Host Mexico surprised with 3-1 (25-21, 25-19, 21-25, 25-16) victory over Cuba. Mexico benefited from 38 opponent errors, led by Uxue Amaya Guereca on 21 kills, one block and two aces of 24 points and by Kathya Garcia with 12 kills. Ailama Cese was in charge of Cuba’s offense on 21 kills of 24 points, followed by 13 points from Diaris De La Caridad Perez.
Top Scorer by Day
26- Heidy Casanova of Cuba v Serbia on July 14
24- Natalia Murek of Poland v China on July 15
32- Katarina Lazovic of Serbia v United States on July 16
21- Xiaoquing Cai of China v United States on July 18
21- Holly Carlton of United States v China on July 18
21- Anahi Tosi of Argentina v Mexico on July 18
25- Anahi Tosi of Argentina v Serbia on July 19
25- Monika Krasteva of Bulgaria v United States on July 20
24- Diaris De La Caridad Perez of Cuba v Mexico on July 22
24- Uxue Amaya Guereca of Mexico v Cuba on July 22
Top Scoring Performances
32- Katarina Lazovic of Serbia v United States on July 16
26- Heidy Casanova of Cuba v Serbia on July 14
25- Monika Krasteva of Bulgaria v United States on July 20
25- Anahi Tosi of Argentina v Serbia on July 19
25- Natalia Murek of Poland v Dominican Republic on July 14
24- Diaris De La Caridad Perez of Cuba v Mexico on July 22
24- Uxue Amaya Guereca of Mexico v Cuba on July 22
24- Katarina Lazovic of Serbia v Argentina on July 19
24- Natalia Murek of Poland v China on July 15
23- Angelina Lazarenko of Russia v Japan on July 22
23- Anai Florencia Tosi of Argentina v Turkey on July 15
23- Heidy Casanova of Cuba v United States on July 15
22- Elena Becheva of Bulgaria v United States on July 20
22- Wu Han of China v Dominican Republic on July 16
22- Kurogu Ai of Japan v Turkey on July 16
22- Martyna Lukasik of Poland v Peru on July 16
22- Hanyu Yang of China v Poland on July 15
21- Guveli Yasemin of Turkey v Japan on July 16
21- Wu Han of China v Peru on July 14
21- Katarina Lazovic of Serbia v Cuba on July 14
21- Aleksandra Lipska of Poland v Dominican Republic on July 14
20- Hanyu Yang of China v United States on July 18
20- Tugba Senoglu of Turkey v Italy on July 14
20- Monika Krasteva of Bulgaria v Mexico on July 16
20- Hanyu Yang of China v Japan on July 20
20- Vanja Bukilic of Serbia v Mexico on July 20
20- Ai jurogo of Japan v Russia on July 22
20- Shiori Aratani of Japan v Russia on July 22
Top Individual Blocking Performances
11- Zehra Gunes of Turkey v Argentina on July 15
9- Yuqian Zhang of China v Japan on July 20
9- Martyna Swirad of Poland v Brazil on July 15
9- Guveli Yasemin of Turkey v Japan on July 16
8- Zehra Gunes of Turkey v Russia on July 16
7- Uasemin Guveli of Turkey v Brazil on July 19
7- Hanyu Yang of China v Poland on July 14
6- Maricarmen Gurerrero of Peru v Poland on July 16
6- Martyna Swirad of Poland v Peru on July 16
6- Agostina Sol Beltramino of Argentina v Turkey on July 15
6- Emileta Racheva of Bulgaria v Russia on July 14
6- Diana Duarte Alecrim of Brazil v Serbia on July 15
6- Ljubica Milojevic of Serbia v Argentina on July 19
6- Guveli Yasemin of Turkey v Poland on July 20
6-Karyna Malachias of Brazil v Bulgaria on July 22
Top Team Blocking Performances
22- Turkey v Argentina on July 15
20- United States v Bulgaria on July 20
20- Vanja Bukilic of Serbia v Mexico on July 20
20- Turkey v Russia on July 18
20- Turkey v Japan on July 16
19- Russia v Japan on July 22
19- United States v China on July 18
18- China v Japan on July 20
18- Turkey v Brazil on July 19
17- Serbia v Argentina on July 19
16- Argentina v Turkey on July 15
16- China v Poland on July 15
16- Dominican Republic v Peru on July 14
15- Mexico v Bulgaria on July 16
Top Individual Serving Performances
8- Dalila Palma of Cuba v Egypt on July 20
7- Emileta Racheva of Bulgaria v Mexico on July 16
7- Tugba Senogly of Turkey v Italy on July 14
6- Giulia Melli of Italy v Egypt on July 18
5- Miyu Nakagawa of Japan v China on July 20
5- Vanja Bukilic of Serbia v Mexico on July 20
5- Nkemdilim Ruth Enweonwu of Italy v Dominican Republic on July 20
5- Diaris Perez of Cuba v Serbia on July 14
5- Kathya Garcia of Mexico v Bulgaria on July 16
4- Aleksandra Milanova of Bulgaria v Mexico on July 16
4- Borislava Saykova of Bulgaria v Mexico on July 16
4- Norene Iosia of United States v Cuba on July 15
4- Wu Han of China v Dominican Republic on July 16
4- Hanyu Yang of China v United States on July 18
4- Jennifer Boldini of Italy v Cuba on July 19
4- Katarina Lazovic of Serbia v Argentina on July 19
4- Elena Becheva of Bulgaria v united States on July 20
4- Ysabella Sanchez of Peru v Egypt on July 22
4- Zuzanna Gorecka of Poland v United States on July 22
4- Martyna Lukasik of Poland v United States on July 22
4- Karina Barbosa of Brazil v Bulgaria on July 22
Top Team Serving Performances
19- Bulgaria v Mexico on July 16
17- Serbia v Cuba on July 14
15- Poland v United States on July 22
14- Turkey v Italy on July 14
13- Cuba v Egypt on July 20
13- China v United States on July 18
13- Japan v Bulgaria on July 18
12- Italy v Cuba on July 19
12- United States v Cuba on July 15
11- Italy v Egypt on July 18
11- Serbia v Mexico on July 20
10- Turkey v Japan on July 16
10- Serbia v United States on July 16
10- Russia v Bulgaria on July 14
10- Bulgaria v United States on July 20
10- Japan v China on July 20
Highest Scoring Sets
32-30 Russia v Japan on July 22
31-29 United States v Cuba on July 15
30-28 China v Japan on July 20
30-28 United States v China on July 18
28-26 Italy v Argentina on July 16
28-26 Turkey v Argentina on July 15
27-25 Bulgaria v Mexico on July 16
27-25 Serbia v Cuba on July 14
Highest Scoring Matches
229- Russia v Japan 3-2 (32-30, 25-19, 23-25, 23-25, 15-12) on July 22
219- Turkey v Argentina 3-2 (23-25, 28-26, 25-19, 20-25, 15-13) on July 15
210- Bulgaria v United States 3-2 (16-25, 26-24, 19-25, 25-23, 15-12) on July 20
210- Dominican Republic v Poland 3-2 (20-25, 25-23, 20-25, 25-17, 16-14) on July 14
210- China v United States 3-2 (23-25, 30-28, 25-16, 10-25, 15-13) on July 18
213- Serbia v Argentina 3-2 (20-25, 16-25, 25-20, 26-24, 17-15) on July 19
213- Japan v Turkey 3-2 (22-25, 20-25, 25-21, 25-23, 15-12) on July 16
212- United States v Serbia 3-2 (22-25, 10-25, 26-24, 25-23, 17-15) on July 16
207- Bulgaria v Mexico 3-2 (27-25, 24-26, 25-12, 19-25, 15-9) on July 16
204- Turkey v Italy 3-2 (20-25, 25-21, 20-25, 25-16, 15-12) on July 14
200- Serbia v Cuba 3-2 (25-13, 25-17, 25-27, 17-25, 15-11) on July 14