Ankara, Turkey, August 15, 2015 – Turkey are the first team to claim a semifinal ticket at the 2015 FIVB Volleyball U23 Women’s World Championship in Ankara, Turkey. The hosts clinched a hard-earned 3-2 win versus Bulgaria in Pool A on Saturday evening. The Dominican Republic, Japan as well as China share the lead in Pool B.
Turkey protected non-defeated title as they dramatically battled against Bulgaria winning 3-2 in Saturday’s last match in Pool A (25-20, 25-22, 23-25, 19-25, 15-8). A tense clash took place between Turkey and Bulgaria where both teams’ ambitious tactics brought a spectacular show. Bulgaria’s Silvana Chausheva scored 16 points while Hande Baladin chipped in 14 kills for the hosts.
Brazil overpowered Italy 3-1 (30-28, 16-25, 25-19, 25-20) to win the predetermining duel for the second semifinal spot in Pool A. Brazil have improved to a 3-1 win-loss record while Italy drop to 2-2. The deciding moment of the match came in the middle of the third set. Italy led 13-11 before Brazil turned the tables to make it 16-14 in their favour. The Brazilian blockers eventually found their rhythm while Italy’s spikers lost focus.
In the duel between the two last ranked teams of Pool A, Colombia blanked Egypt 3-0 (25-14, 25-19, 26-24). It was the first triumph for the South Americans in their fourth match at the 2015 FIVB Volleyball Women’s U23 World Championship. Egypt remain winless with a 0-4 win-loss record.
In Pool B, Japan stopped Dominican Republic’s winning streak at 2015 FIVB Volleyball Women’s U23 World Championship by beating the Caribbean side 3-1 (25-20, 25-18, 16-25, 25-19) on Saturday evening. Arisa Inoue led the Asian side with spectacular 24 points, including two blocks and an ace. Captain Brayelin Elizabeth Martinez was the top scorer for the Dominican Republic with 19 winners.
China added a 3-1 (22-25, 25-20, 25-18, 25-16) win versus Peru in Saturday’s second match in Pool B to recover from their setback against the Dominican Republic on Friday. China stalled back in the first set later making a comeback and winning the game 3-1, while China’s Song Meili became the most scorers, booking 17 points with an attack average of 60% and with Peru’s Angela Leyva scoring 17 points too.
In Saturday’s first Pool B match, Thailand added a 3-0 victory, while Cuba regrets losing after a head on clash (25-17, 30-28, 25-22) in the 2015 FIVB Volleyball Women’s U23 World Championship in Ankara as Cuba left the match with no win so far in the tournament. Thailand’s Pimpichaya added 14 points and Cuba’s Aguilera contributed 13 points for her team.
The 2015 FIVB Volleyball U23 Women’s World Championship will resume on Monday with the fifth competition day and the last preliminary round matches.
Schedule for August 17 (local time)
14:00: DOM v THA / ITA v EGY
16:30: JPN v PER / BRA v BUL
19:00: TUR v COL / CHN v CUB
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
Top Scoring Performances
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
Top Individual Serving Performances
4- Nakata Shino of Japan v Cuba on August 12
4- Shirai Misaki of Japan v Cuba on August 12
4- Baladin Hande of Turkey v Egypt on August 12
4- Shirai Misaki of Japan v China on August 13
4- Inoue Arisa of Japan v Thailand on August 14
4- Silva Juma of Brazil v Italy on August 15
Top Team Serving Performances
10- Japan v Cuba on August 12
9- Japan v Thailand on August 14
Top Individual Blocking Performances
6- Jineiry Martinez of Dominican Republic v Japan on August 15
6- Milena Dimova of Bulgaria v Turkey on August 16
Top Team Blocking Performances
17- Turkey v Brazil on August 14
15- Dominican Republic v Japan on August 15
14- China v Japan on August 13
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
Highest Scoring Matches
207- Turkey v Bulgaria 3-2 (25-20, 25-22, 23-25, 19-25, 15–8) on August 15
190- China v Thailand 3-1 (25-27, 25-19, 25-21, 25-23) on August 12
188- China v Japan 3-1 (23-25, 25-16, 25-22, 27-25) on August 13
188- Brazil v Italy 3-1 (30-28, 16-25, 25-19, 25-20) on August 15