Women's U20 World Championship: Bulgaria and United States move into top eight

Alsto moving into the battle for the medals at Arena Cordoba starting on Tuesday, are Russia, Brazil, China, Japan, Poland and Turkey. Placing matches will be at Arena Veracruz in Boca del Rio. 

Bulgaria beat host Mexico in exciting tie-break 3-2 (27-25, 24-26, 25-12, 19-25, 15-9) with impressive 19-7 margin in serves and Monika Karsteva’s 20 points. Emileta Racheva pumped up her team witn 7 aces, while Aleksandra Milanova and Elena Becheva joined the offense with 17 and 16 points accordingly. 

Russia topped pool A after defeating Egypt 3-0 (25-18, 25-16, 25-17) in their third consecutive win. Angelina Lazarenko and Anna Kotikova tallied 13 and 10 points respectively for Russia.

A combination of results in pool B shipped defending champion Dominican Republic into placing matches. China, Poland and Dominicans finished with same 2-0 record, putting Asia’s champions in first place with seven points, Poland in second with six and Dominican Republic in third with five.

China won to Dominican Republic in straight sets (25-19, 25-20, 25-17). Han Wu scored four aces on her 22 points, followed by Hanyu Yang with 17 points to outplay Dominican’s overall 12-6 margin in blocks.

Earlier Poland finished Peru 3-1 (25-18, 25-22, 14-25, 25-12), just enough to keep in the run for the medals. Martyna Lukasik scored 22 points, alongside Martyna Swirad with 15. 

Katarina Lazovic scored remarkable 32 points on Serbia’s upset tie-break loss to United States who snatched a ticket in the top eight, bouncing back to beat Serbia 3-2 (22-25, 10-25, 26-24, 25-23, 17-15).  Ronika Stone and Leah Edmond with 15 points apiece, and 10 by Holly Carlton, led USA winning campaign. 

Brazil remained undefeated not before their dramatic 3-2 (23-25, 22-25, 25-9, 15-13) comeback win to Cuba. Both sides divided their offense; Brazil with Glayce Kelly Tobias (19), Diana Duarte (15) and Karina Barbosa (14); and Cuba with Ailama Cesa (19), Diaris De La Caridad (13) and Heidy Casanova (12). 

Turkey’s crushing 20 blocks and 10 aces over Japan could not nail top spot in pool D. Japan won on a spectacular 3-2 (22-25, 20-25, 25-21, 25-23, 15-12) comeback. This was Turkey’s third five-setter in a row. Kurogo Ai with three aces on 22 points was Japan best scorer and Guveli Yasemin with nine blocks and three aces on 21 points topped Turkey.  

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

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- Tugba Senoglu of Turkey v Italy on July 14

20- Monika Krasteva of Bulgaria v Mexico on July 16

11- Zehra Gunes of Turkey v Argentina on July 15

9- Guveli Yasemin of Turkey v Japan 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

5- Geraldine Gonzalez of Dominican Republic v China 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

22- Turkey v Argentina on July 15

20- Turkey v Japan on July 16

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

7- Emileta Racheva of Bulgaria v Mexico on July 16

7- Tugba Senogly of Turkey v Italy on July 14

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

19- Bulgaria v Mexico on July 16

17- Serbia v Cuba on July 14

14- Turkey v Italy on July 14

12- United States v Cuba on July 15

10- Turkey v Japan on July 16

10- Serbia v United States on July 16

10- Russia v Bulgaria on July 14

31-29 United States v Cuba on July 15

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

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 

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