Team USA Will Try To Bounce Back Against Korea In WGCC. Day 2 Preview

2017 WORLD GRAND CHAMPIONS CUP – WOMEN’S

• September 5-9
• Nagoya and Osaka, Japan
• Preview
• VolleyMob Power Rankings
• Day 1 Recap
• Women – Schedule/Results
• WATCH LIVE

Day 2 of competition is set to take off in a couple of hours. It will be an easy one for Team USA and Russia, who will face Korea and Japan, respectively. Meanwhile, Brazil and China will probably decide their chances at a gold medal today, as they go head to head in the day’s most exciting game.

Team USA x Korea

Reigning world champions USA will take on Korea with both teams seeking their first win at the 2017 FIVB Women’s World Grand Champions, after they lost on the opening day to China and Japan respectively. It’s the third meeting between the two sides in the history of the competition, having split victories in their past encounters.

Team USA should have no trouble securing an easy 3-0 win, as the Korean side is playing the competition without most of its top players. Also, the Americans had a nice showing against China yesterday and will certainly build on that, as they shake off the nervousness of the first day of competition.

Team USA has now failed to win their opener in four of their five participations in the competition. In 2013, they lost to Brazil in their first match before winning the other four that year and finishing runners-up to the Brazilians. However, they have not lost back-to-back Grand Champions Cup matches since the 2001 edition.

The last meeting between both teams came at the 2015 World Cup. The United States won in straight sets. Korea has not finished on the podium of a world level tournament since their third place in the 1997 World Grand Prix.

Brazil x China

Defending champions Brazil take on China as both sides look at remaining undefeated, with top scorers of the opening day Tandara Caixeta (28 points) and Ting Zhu (21) going head-to-head. Their most recent meeting came at the 2017 World Grand Prix. China won in straight sets. China defeated Brazil in five sets in the Rio 2016 Olympic Games quarterfinals en route to their Olympic title.

History is on Brazil’s side on this one, as its only defeat in their last 16 matches at the Grand Champions Cup came in straight sets against Italy in 2009. However, they have brought to the competition a very young and inexperienced team, while China has kept most of its Olympic gold medal Olympic squad intact. Expect a good game, but a relatively easy Chinese win.

Russia x Japan

Hosts Japan will face off against Russia. Japan can go 2-0 in this years competition after their opening day win over Korea, but Russia will be looking for their first victory after falling to Brazil. Russia has now now failed to win their opener in four of their five participations in the competition. Both teams most recently met at the 2017 World Grand Prix, with Japan prevailing in five sets after coming 2-0 behind.

The biggest question of the day is if Russian coach Vladimir Kuziutkin  will repeat his questionable decision of the first game to start the match with his stars on the bench. If he doesn’t, Russia is the clear favorite to secure a win.