Caguas, Gurabo, Juncos and Maunabo, Puerto Rico, September 13, 2015 - The only remaining question at FIVB Women’s U20 World Championship was answered on Sunday, when Serbia prevailed over China in a stirring tie-breaker and hence completed the elite of eight teams that will keep playing for the gold medal.
On the first match to reach a fifth set, Serbia generated another upset as they reduced defending champions China 3-2 (25-20, 14-25, 18-25, 25-17, 15-5) in Juncos. In a very tied match, Maja Aleksic scored 19 points for Serbia while Gong Xiangyu gave China 22 points that weren't enough for the second round berth, as this age group will have a new champion at the end of the tournament.
One of the teams aiming to that precious gold medal is Peru, which saw off Mexico 3-0 (25-14, 25-22, 25-23) despite a good fight from the Mexican side. Maguilaura Frias once again rose above all scorers to extend Peru’s undefeated run, this time with 14 points, as her side placed atop of Pool B with 3-0 numbers and without dropping a set so far.
Pool A was dominated by Russia, after shaking off a scrappy Bulgarian side 3-0 (25-19, 25-15, 25-19) with Angelina Sperskaite and Tatiana Iurinskaia in perfect shape. The Russian team is the only other team - together with Peru, who still holds a spotless record on both wins and sets. Regardless of this step backwards, Bulgaria also moved forward to the second round.
Following the tracks of Serbia and China, hosts Puerto Rico and Cuba also fought through five sets, at a full house in Gurabo, with the latter emerging victorious at this Caribbean duel 3-2 (25-14, 25-20, 20-25, 11-25, 15-7). Although Puerto Rican girls are still winless at home soil, they awarded a sensational struggle to their fans and had the comeback at hand before falling.
In Caguas, Pool C reached its finale with two tight games that were very close of going all the way. Firstly, Chinese Taipei smiled for the first time in Puerto Rico with a 3-1 (24-26, 25-17, 25-19, 25-17) win over Egypt, reacting thanks to some accurate substitutions and the scoring of captain Lee Yu, with a match-high of 16 points.
Later on, Italy and Japan faced each other in an exciting game, which finished for the European side 3-1 (21-25, 25-21, 25-9, 26-24) rewarding them with Pool C first place. Paola Egonu shone once more with 20 points, the same amount than Japanese captain Mizuki Yanagita, but the Italian had in Anna Danesi a key supporter as the middle-blocker collected 19 tallies.
Turkey became also a Sunday winner after supplying Czech Republic with a defeat 3-1 (25-19, 23-25, 25-19, 25-15) in a Pool D match, with a power trio formed by Yagmur Milic, Aga Germen and Su Zent. Gabriela Kopacova tried her best for the Czechs, but they still fell to 0-3 on the competition.
Closing the day at that pool, Dominican Republic shut down Brazil 3-0 (25-22, 25-22, 25-19) fantastically led by a 22-point production of experienced Brayelin Martinez. The Dominicans achieved the top of the group as they successfully stopped the Brazilian pace, which arrived to the game having won all six sets played at the moment.
Top Scorer by Day23 - Gergana Dimitrova of Bulgaria v Puerto Rico on September 11
19 - Brayelin Martinez of Dominican Republic v Czech Republic on September 12
19 - Nanami Hirose of Japan v Chinese Taipei of September 12
24 - Yagmur Kilic of Turkey v Czech Republic on September 13
Top Scoring Performances24 - Yagmur Kilic of Turkey v Czech Republic on September 13
23 - Gergana Dimitrova of Bulgaria v Puerto Rico on September 11
22 - Karla Santos of Puerto Rico v Bulgaria on September 11
22 - Gong Xiangyu of China v Serbia on September 13
22 - Brayelin Martinez of Dominican Republic v Brazil on September 13
20 - Paola Egonu of Italy v Japan on September 13
20 - Mizuki Yanagita of Japan v Italy on September 13
Top Serving Performances5 - Gong Xiangyu of China v Mexico on September 11
5 - Anna Lazareva of Russia v Cuba on September 11
5 - Drussyla Costa of Brazil v Turkey on September 12
5 - Sara Lozo of Serbia v China on September 13
Top Team Serving Performances12 - Russia v Cuba on September 11
12 - Turkey v Czech Republic on September 13
11 - Russia v Bulgaria on September 11
11 - Serbia v China on September 13
Top Blocking Performances7 - Laiza Ferreira of Brazil v Czech Republic on September 11
7 - Zhang Qian of China v Peru on September 12
6 - Lee Yu of Chinese Taipei v Egypt on September 13
6 - Anna Danesi of Italy v Japan on September 13
Top Team Blocking Performances16 - Serbia v China on September 13
15 - Italy v Japan on September 13
13 - China v Mexico on September 11
13 - Dominican Republic v Czech Republic on September 12
Highest Scoring Sets28-26 Peru v Serbia (3rd Set) on September 11
27-25 Peru v China (3rd Set) on September 12
26-24 Czech Republic v Dominican Republic (2nd Set) on September 12
26-24 Peru v China (1st Set) on September 12
26-24 Cuba v Bulgaria (2nd Set) on September 12
26-24 Egypt v Chinese Taipei (1st Set) on September 13
26-24 Italy v Japan (4th Set) on September 13
Highest Scoring Matches189 - Serbia d China 3-2 (25-20, 14-25, 18-25, 25-17, 15-5) on September 13
187 - Cuba d Puerto Rico 3-2 (25-14, 25-20, 20-25, 11-25, 15-7) on September 13