Natalia Murek celebrates Poland's victory over China
Cordoba / Boca del Rio, Mexico, July 15- Poland persevered to a 3-2 (16-25, 26-24, 15-25, 25-15, 15-12) victory over China to keep in the run for the next phase of the U20 FIVB Volleyball Women’s World Championship.
Natalia Murek’s ongoing strikes while scoring 20 kills on a match-high of 24 points, took China by assault. The Asian team 16-11 blocking margin could not control Murek force over the net.
Pool A
Bulgaria’s overwhelming 47-22 margin in attacks was determinant in their 3-0 (25-17, 25-21, 25-23) win over Egypt for survival in pool A. Aleksandra Milanova with 12 and Karhtyn Dimitrova with 11 topped the charts.
Russia was taken off balance by host Mexico in their 3-1 (25-15, 23-25, 25-17, 25-14) second victory, again balancing their offense between Maria Vorobyeva with 16 points, Anna Kotikova with 14, and Victoriia Russu with 13 points.
Pool B
Poland pulled off a crucial victory, bringing high expectations on their own result against Peru and that of China against defending champion Dominican Republic for pool B final standings.
Dominican Republic’s 16-4 blocking margin once again played a key role in their second consecutive win after crushing Peru 3-0 (25-20, 25-8, 25-19). Dominican Vielka Peralta with eleven kills on 19 points was the best scorer.
Pool C
The battle for pool C runner-up remains difficult as Serbia and United States stand with equal 1-1 win-loss record.
Brazil is undefeated after finishing Serbia 3-1 (25-13, 25-21, 23-25, 25-22) balancing their performance between solid 12-9 margin in blocking and top scorer Tainara Lemes Santos with 16 points.
United States and Cuba engaged in a complicated first set, with the US taking their first victory by 3-0 (31-29, 25-20, 25-23). United States impressive 12-4 advantage in serves, helped stop Heidy Casanova’s storming 20 kills on 23 points.
Pool D
With one more match to play among each other, Japan and Turkey are ready to go to the play-offs while Argentina and Italy will settle for placing matches.
Turkey impressed with an overall 22 point blocking performance in their second consecutive five-set win beating a combative Argentina by 3-2 (23-25, 28-26, 25-19, 20-25, 15-13). Zehra Gunes carried Turkey’s offense with eleven of her team’s 22 overall blocks. Argentina’s intense efforts were led by a match-high of 23 points by Anai Florencia Tosi.
Japan’s strategy worked well winning over Italy who reacted with stronger attacks in a tough final third set 3-0 (25-17, 25-15, 26-24). Japan divided forces between Shiori Aratani with 14 kills on 15 points and Reina Tokoku with four aces on 14 points.
Top Scorer by Day
26- Heidy Casanova of Cuba v Serbia on July 14
24- Natalia Murek of Poland v China on July 15
Top Scoring Performances
26- Heidy Casanova of Cuba v Serbia on July 14
25- Natalia Murek of Poland v Dominican Republic on July 14
24- Natalia Murek of Poland v China on July 15
23- Anai Florencia Tosi of Argentina v Turkey on July 15
23- Heidy Casanova of Cuba v United States on July 15
22- Hanyu Yang of China v Poland on July 15
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- Tugba Senoglu of Turkey v Italy on July 14
Top Individual Blocking Performances
11- Zehra Gunes of Turkey v Argentina on July 15
7- Hanyu Yang of China v Poland on July 14
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
5- Geraldine Gonzalez of Dominican Republic v Poland on July 14
5- Giulia Mancini of Italy v Turkey on July 14
5- Zehra Gunes of Turkey on July 14
5- Karina Flores of Mexico v Russia on July 15
Top Team Blocking Performances
22- Turkey v Argentina on July 15
16- Argentina v Turkey on July 15
16- China v Poland on July 15
16- Dominican Republic v Peru on July 14
13- Bulgaria v Russia on July 14
12- Russia v Bulgaria on July 14
12- Dominican Republic v Poland on July 14
12- Brazil v Serbia on July 15
11- Cuba v Serbia on July 14
11- Brazil v United States on July 14
11- Poland v China on July 14
10- Russia v Mexico on July 15
Top Individual Serving Performances
7- Tugba Senogly of Turkey v Italy on July 14
5- Diaris Perez of Cuba v Serbia on July 14
4- Norene Iosia of United States v Cuba on July 15
Top Team Serving Performances
17- Serbia v Cuba on July 14
14- Turkey v Italy on July 14
12- United States v Cuba on July 15
10- Russia v Bulgaria on July 14
Highest Scoring Sets
31-29 United States v Cuba on July 15
28-26 Turkey v Argentina on July 15
27-25 Serbia v Cuba on July 14
26-24 China v Peru on July 14
26-24 Bulgaria v Russia on July 14
26-24 Japan v Italy on July 15
26-24 Poland v China on July 15
Highest Scoring Matches
219- Turkey v Argentina 3-2 (23-25, 28-26, 25-19, 20-25, 15-13) on July 15
210- Dominican Republic v Poland 3-2 (20-25, 25-23, 20-25, 25-17, 16-14) on July 14
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
198- Poland v China 3-2 (16-25, 26-24, 15-25, 25-15, 15-12) on July 15