China Champions of the FIVB Women's U20 Championship
Cordoba / Boca del Rio, Mexico, July 23 - China won the 19th edition of the FIVB Volleyball Women’s U20 World Championship after defeating Russia 3-0 (25-22, 25-22, 25-16) in the title match on Sunday in Cordoba, Mexico.
China took charge over Russia from the beginning. Russia had reached the gold medal match unbeaten only to surrender to China’s impressive force as the crowd at Arena Cordoba cheered for both sides. This is China’s third U20 World Championship title; they also won in 1995 and 2013.
Final Standings: 1. China, 2. Russia, 3. Japan, 4. Turkey, 5. Brazil, 6. Poland, 7. United States, 8. Bulgaria, 9. Italy, 10. Serbia, 11. Dominican Republic, 12. Argentina, 13. Mexico, 14. Peru, 15. Cuba, 16. Egypt.
MVP: Hanyu Yang (China)
Dream Team:
Setter: Tamaki Matsui (Japan)
Opposite: Anna Kotikova (Russia)
Outside Spikers: Wu Han (China) and Tugba Senoglu (Turkey)
Middle Blockers: Gunes Zehra (Turkey) and Yang Hanyu (China)
Libero: Alexandre Costa Nyeme (Brazil)
Gold medal match
China’s impressive strength and consistency took Russia by surprise in straight sets 3-0 (25-22, 25-22, 25-16) in the championship title match. After reaching the final unbeaten, Russia struggled against China´s leading spikers Cai Xiaoqing and Wu Han, who scored 15 and 14 points respectively. Russia was led by Angelina Lazarenko with 14 points and Anna Kotilkova with 10 points. China benefited from Russia’s 22 unforced errors while limiting their own to 12.
Bronze medal match
Japan won the bronze medal of the U20 World Championship in a roller-coaster five setter against Turkey 3-2 (19-25, 25-20, 18-25, 25-20, 15-12). Turkey’s impressive 19-6 margin in blocks could not stop Japan’s tenacity and outstanding defence. Japan balanced their attack between Ai Kurogo with 19 points, joined by Shuri Yamaguchi and Miyu Nakagawa with 15 points apiece; Shirio Aratani added 13 points. Turkish Zehra Gunes topped all scorers with 21 points on 7 blocks and 3 aces, while Tugba Senoglu contributed with 20 points including 5 blocks.
5th place
In the re-match between Brazil and Poland, it was Brazil who finished on top 3-1 (25-17, 25-21, 27-29, 25-21) for the fifth place in the event. Brazil’s 17-8 margin in blocking and balanced offense was their key for success. The top Brazilian scorers were Tainara Lemes (16), Lorrayna Da Silva (12), Diana Duarte (11), Glayce Kelly Tobias (11) and Karina Barbosa (10).
7th place
In seventh place, United States ended with a five-set win over Bulgaria 3-2 (25-16, 19-25, 19-25, 25-16, 15-9). With 20 points on 14 kills Ronika Stone led USA, joined by Brionne Butler with 13 points on 11 kills.
9th place
Italy finished in 9th place defeating Serbia (10th). Ruth Terry Enweonwu led Italy’s 3-0 (25-20, 25-19, 25-15) victory with 17 points on 14 kills, supported by Giulia Melli with 11 points. Italy benefited on 24 opponent errors.
11th place
Dominican Republic prevailed in straight sets 3-0 (25-20, 25-17, 25-19) over Argentina, earning 11th place. The Dominicans outnumbered their opponents 10-3 in blocks and benefited from 21 opponent errors while limiting their own to 12. Vielka Peralta with 18 points and Yanlis Feliz with 15 points topped the charts.
13th place
Hosts Mexico finished in 13th place after defeating Peru in five sets 3-2 (25-17, 22-25, 17-25, 25-23, 15-10) in Boca del Rio. Uxue Guereca was once again Mexico’s leading scorer with 24 points on 21 kills, supported by Kathya Garcia with 17 points on 15 kills and Samantha Villegas as well as Karina Flores, both with 13 points. In last year’s edition, Peru had finished in sixth place.
15th place
Heidy Casanova, finally back in action, scored 20 points on 15 kills and 5 blocks for Cuba´s victory over Egypt 3-0 (25-23, 25-22, 25-21) to finish in 15th place. Egypt also finished 16th in 2015.
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
24- Uxue Amaya Guereca of Mexico v Peru on July 23
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- Uxue Amaya Guereca of Mexico v Peru on July 23
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
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- Zehra Gunes of Turkey v Japan on July 23
7- Uasemin Guveli of Turkey v Brazil on July 19
7- Hanyu Yang of China v Poland on July 14
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- Turkey v Japan on July 23
19- Russia v Japan on July 22
19- United States v China on July 18
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
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
13- Bulgaria v United States on July 23
12- Italy v Cuba on July 19
12- United States v Cuba on July 15
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- Japan v Turkey 3-2 (19-25, 25-20, 18-25, 25-20, 15-12) on July 23
204- Mexico v Peru 3-2 (25-17, 22-25, 17-25, 25-23, 15-10) on July 23
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