China Steals Away Five Setter from USA to Kick Off Pool F U20 Play

2017 FIVB VOLLEYBALL U20 World Championships – Women

• July 14-23, 2017
• Cordoba, Mexico
• Schedule/Results

Pool F

China def. United States 3-2 (23-25, 30-28, 25-16, 10-25, 15-13)

Japan def. Bulgaria 3-0 (25-16, 25-12, 25-18)

China rallied with four straight points to steal away a 15-11 Set 5 win and the match over the United States to kick off Top Eight play at the U20 Championships on Tuesday. Meanwhile, Japan stayed level with the Chinese in Pool F with an easy sweep of Bulgaria.

China 3, USA 2

Nineteen blocks were not enough to lift the United States past China in a close five-set match on Tuesday.

The Americans outscored the Chinese 107-103 and held a 13-11 advantage in the decisive fifth set, but could not finish out the victory. Team USA had rallied from down 11-9 to take the late lead, but China scored four straight points to steal away the match.

“Obviously we are disappointed that things did not go our way in the last few points, but overall, what an incredible match by Team USA,” Junior National Team coach Laurie Corbelli said. “Our passing got better and better as the match went on, and offensively we were very hard to stop. The Chinese team has the fastest offense that we have seen so far in this tournament, and I thought our blockers adjusted extremely well to the quick pace. Team USA is improving each match and we are excited to face Japan tomorrow afternoon and hopefully getting one step closer to our goal of competing in the medal round.

The United States outblocked its foe 19-7, but gave up three more kills (56-53), four more blocks (13-9) and one more error (26-25) in the loss.

Xiaoqing Cai and Hanyu Yang scored 21 and 20 points respectively to pace the Chinese effort. Cai downed 20 kills, while Yang added 12 kills, four blocks and four aces. Han Wu chipped in 14 points, with 12 kills and two aces. Yuqian Zhang and Yaqian Cai served up three aces each.

Holly Carlton paced the Americans with 21 points, including 13 kills, five blocks and three aces. Leah Edmond (17), Ronika Stone (16) and Brionne Butler (13) followed. Edmond managed 13 kills and three blocks, while Stone and Butler chipped in 10 kills apiece. Stone also put up a team-leading five blocks.

Japan 3, Bulgaria 0

Japan nearly doubled the output of its Bulgaria foes in an easy sweep to start Top Eight round robin play.

The Japanese turned in 75 points, with 38 kills, 13 aces and five blocks. Bulgaria managed just 46 points, with 18 kills, eight aces and five blocks. Japan also had help from 19 Bulgarian miscues, while committing just 15.

Miyuki Horie led Japan with 13 points, including a match-high 12 kills and an ace. Ai Kurogo and Miku Shimada chipped in eight points apiece. Kurugo served up three aces to go with her five kills, while Shimada tallied three aces, three blocks and two kills.

Monika Krasteva paced Bulgaria with 10 points, including nine kills and an ace. Aleksandra Milanova followed with five points, including two aces, two kills and a block.