Cordoba / Boca del Rio, Mexico, July 18- Russia and Japan are the only teams that remain unbeaten after the first day in round two of the FIVB Women U20 World Championship kicked off on Tuesday.
Round two got underway with the top eight teams competing in the gold bracket, divided in two groups at Cordoba. Russia, Poland, Brazil and Turkey are in pool E; China, Bulgaria, Japan and United States in pool F.
Placing matches take place in Boca del Rio, consisting of pool G with Mexico, Peru, Serbia and Argentina, and pool H of Dominican Republic, Egypt, Italy and Cuba.
Pool E
Russia and Poland had a spectacular first day in pool E.
Despite Zhra Gunes’ 8 blocks of Turkey’s extraordinary 20-13 margin in blocking, Russia grabbed the first victory in round two by 3-1 (25-21, 25-22, 13-25, 25-20). Angelina Lazarenko led Russia’s balanced offence with 13 points, joined by Anna Kotikova with 12 points and Maria Vorobyeva with 10 points.
Poland served Brazil their first loss of the event on a solid 3-0 (25-14, 25- 18, 25-23). The polish gals stormed past Brazil with authority on 40-25 margin in spikes. Zuzanna Gorecka and Martyna Lukasik led Poland with 12 kills on 15 points apiece,
Pool F
All Asian winners marked the start in pool F; China prevailed in a well disputed tie-break over United States and Japan in straight sets against Bulgaria.
Xiaoqing Cai with twenty kills on 21 points and Hanyu Yang´s four blocks and four aces of a total of 20 points, carried China to defeat United States 3-2 (23-25, 30-28, 25-16, 10-25, 15-13). Actions finished with China dominating in serves (13-9) and USA in blocks (19-9).
Japan rallied past Bulgaria 3-0 (25-16, 25-12, 25-18) with overwhelming 38-18 margin in spikes and 13-8 in serves. Miyuki Horie topped Japan’s scorers with 13 points.
Pool G
Serbia and Argentina started placing matches in pool G with dominant victories.
Serbia managed total control over Peru 3-0 (25-13, 25-15, 25-19) led by Katarina Lazovic with three aces on 12 points, the only player that finished with double digits.
Anahi Tosi carried Argentina into their first world championship victory, on 19 kills on a match-high of 21 points, after defeating host Mexico 3-0 (25-19, 25-18, 25-15) in Boca del Rio.
Pool H
Dominican Republic and Italy had no difficulties to defeat Cuba and Egypt respectively, on their route to ninth place.
Dominicans prevailed over Cuba 3-0 (25-18, 25-17, 25-16) with balanced scoring by Vielka Peralta on 12 kills, Yanlis Feliz with 11 points on 8 kills, 2 blocks and one ace, and Madeline Guillen with 10 points on 3 kills, 2 blocks and 5 aces.
Italy’s 11-2 advantage in serves outplayed Egypt 3-0 (25-17, 25-17, 25-6). Elena Pietrini with 16 kills on 17 points, alongside Ruth Enweonwu and Giulia Melli with 11 points led Italy.
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 Staes v China on July 18
21- Anahi Tosi of Argentina v Mexico on July 18
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- 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- 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
Top Individual Blocking Performances
11- Zehra Gunes of Turkey v Argentina on July 15
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- 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
Top Team Blocking Performances
22- Turkey v Argentina on July 15
20- Turkey v Russia on July 18
20- Turkey v Japan on July 16
19- United States v China on July 18
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
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- 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
Top Team Serving Performances
19- Bulgaria v Mexico on July 16
17- Serbia v Cuba on July 14
14- Turkey v Italy on July 14
13- China v United States on July 18
13- Japan v Bulgaria on July 18
12- United States v Cuba on July 15
11- Italy v Egypt on July 18
10- Turkey v Japan on July 16
10- Serbia v United States on July 16
10- Russia v Bulgaria on July 14
Highest Scoring Sets
31-29 United States v Cuba on July 15
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
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
210- China v United States 3-2 (23-25, 30-28, 25-16, 10-25, 15-13) on July 18
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