Ankara, Turkey, August 19, 2015 – In front of 7’600 thrilled fans at sold-out Baskent Volleyball Hall in Ankara, Brazil overpowered hosts Turkey 3-1 to claim gold at 2015 FIVB Volleyball Women’s U23 World Championship. Turkey finish second, the Dominican Republic claim bronze.
Brazil proved too strong for hosts Turkey to eventually cruise to victory 3-1 (25-21, 21-25, 25-19, 25-22) in Wednesday’s gold medal clash. 22 block winners were the key for Brazil’s triumph. Best scorers of the final match were captain Rosamaria for Brazil with 17 points and Kubra Akman for Turkey with 16 kills. The South Americans had the edge in blocking (22-9) and serving (7-6). It was Turkey’s first defeat in the tournament.
Brazil's coach Wagner Coppini said after the match: "We respect the Turkish team; they have a great coach and team. It was a fantastic battle because we played the real Brazil today. I’m proud of my players and their true team spirit."
The Dominican Republic finished the FIVB Volleyball Women’s U23 World Championship on a high note as well. The team of coach Wagner Pacheco came back from behind to overpower Japan 3-2 (21-25, 17-25, 25-21, 25-16, 15-11) in Wednesday’s bronze medal match and concluding their 2015 campaign on the podium. It was the second medal for the Caribbean after their second place in 2013.
Isabel Pena completed the bronze medal clash with a match-high of 23 points. Brayelin Elizabeth Martinez added 22 kills for the Dominican Republic. Japan’s top scorer was Yuka Imamura with 17 points. The Dominican Republic had the edge in blocking (17-4) and serving (10-8).
2013 titleholder China finished their Women’s U23 World Championship campaign on the fifth place. The Asian side swept Italy in straight sets (25-21, 25-20, 27-25) to claim the sixth win in their seventh match in Turkey’s capital Ankara. Their 0-3 loss against the Dominican Republic during pool play was the only defeat for China. Meili Song was China’s top scorer with 19 points, including three aces and two blocks. Anastasia Guerra and Anna Nicoletti contributed 14 kills each for Italy.
Bulgaria clinched seventh rank by overpowering Thailand in an epic five-setter 3-2 (25-21, 21-25, 17-25, 25-11, 15-8) on Wednesday morning. It was Bulgaria’s third win in their seventh match. For both teams the 2015 tournament was their first experience in a women’s U23 world championship.
The 2015 FIVB Volleyball U23 Women’s World Championship came to an end on Wednesday with the gold and bronze medal matches as well as the classification games for the places 5-8.
Final Ranking
1. Brazil
2. Turkey
3. Dominican Republic
4. Japan
5. China
6. Italy
7. Bulgaria
8. Thailand
9. Colombia
9. Peru
11. Cuba
11. Egypt
FIVB Volleyball Women’s U23 World Championship Turkey 2015 Dream Team
Best Outside Spiker: Brayelin Elizabeth Martinez (DOM)
Second Best Outside Spiker: Arisa Inoue (JPN)
Best Middle Blocker: Akman Kubra (TUR)
Second Best Middle Blocker: Sara Bonifacio (ITA)
Best Libero: Gizem (TUR)
Best Setter: Silva Juma (BRA)
Best Opposite: Rosamaria (BRA)
Most Valuable Player: Silva Juma (BRA)
Top Scorer by Day
23- Li Yao of China v Thailand on August 12
23- Martinez Brayelin Elizabeth of Dominican Republic v Peru on August 12
19- Kokram Pimpichaya of Thailand v Peru on August 13
18- Kubra Akman of Turkey v Brazil on August 14
18- Arisa Inoue of Japan v Thailand on August 14
24- Arisa Inoue of Japan v Dominican Republic on August 15
23- Aya Elshamy of Egypt v Italy on August 17
27- Rosamaria of Brazil v Dominican Republic on August 18
23- Isabel Pena of Dominican Republic v Japan on August 19
Top Scoring Performances
27- Rosamaria of Brazil v Dominican Republic on August 18
24- Arisa Inoue of Japan v Dominican Republic on August 15
23- Li Yao of China v Thailand on August 12
23- Martinez Brayelin Elizabeth of Dominican Republic v Peru on August 12
23- Aya Elshamy of Egypt v Italy on August 17
23- Anna Nicoletti of Italy v Thailand on August 18
23- Isabel Pena of Dominican Republic v Japan on August 19
Top Individual Serving Performances
6- Anastasia Guerra of Italy v China on August 19
5- Gergana Dimitrova of Bulgaria v Thailand on August 19
Top Team Serving Performances
18- Bulgaria v Thailand on August 19
11- China v Cuba on August 17
11- Thailand v Italy on August 18
Top Individual Blocking Performances
9- Kubra Akman of Turkey v Japan on August 18
8- Rosamaria of Brazil v Dominican Republic on August 18
7- Sara Bonifacio of Italy v Egypt on August 17
Top Team Blocking Performances
22- Brazil v Turkey on August 19
19- Turkey v Japan on August 18
17- Turkey v Brazil on August 14
17- Dominican Republic v Japan on August 19
Highest Scoring Sets
30-28 Bulgaria v Colombia (3rd set) on August 13
30-28 Thailand v Cuba (2nd set) on August 15
30-28 Brazil v Italy (1st set) on August 15
30-28 Brazil v Bulgaria (3rd set) on August 17
Highest Scoring Matches
207- Turkey v Bulgaria 3-2 (25-20, 25-22, 23-25, 19-25, 15–8) on August 15
207- Italy v Egypt 3-2 (22-25, 22-25, 25-21, 25-15, 15-12) on August 17
201- Brazil v Dominican Republic 3-2 (19-25, 25-21, 15-25, 25-22, 15-9) on August 18
201- Dominican Republic v Japan 21-25, 17-25, 25-21, 25-16, 15-11) on August 19