Women’s WCH Pool C Preview – Can Team USA Go 5-0?

2018 FIVB VOLLEYBALL WOMEN’S WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP

• 29 September – 20 October
• Schedule
• Teams
• Pool C – USA, Russia, Azerbaijan, South Korea, Thailand, Trinidad & Tobago
• Kobe Green Arena, Kobe

Pool C Teams

		Matches		Pts	Sets			Points
Rank	Team	W	L		W	L	Ratio	W	L	Ratio
1	Azerbaijan	0	0	0	0	0	MAX	0	0	MAX
1	Russia	0	0	0	0	0	MAX	0	0	MAX
1	South Korea	0	0	0	0	0	MAX	0	0	MAX
1	Thailand	0	0	0	0	0	MAX	0	0	MAX
1	Trinidad and Tobago	0	0	0	0	0	MAX	0	0	MAX
1	United States	0	0	0	0	0	MAX	0	0	MAX

Pool Preview

Team USA has a clean route for a 5-0 pool run, if its plays at its peak and do not underestimate its opponents. However, it should be careful. Every other team in the group, besides Trinidad, is well below the American squad but just close enough to have a puncher’s chance against it the stars and planets align just right. Russia should grab the 2nd spot. Korea, Azerbaijan, and Thailand will go on a bloodbath to round off the last two spots.

Story Lines to Watch

• Defending champs Team USA has a very deep roster for the competition. Coach Karch Kiraly will have to find the optimum playing time for Michelle Bartsch-Hackley, Kim Hill, and Jordan Larson at the outside.
• Once one of the best teams in the world, Russia has been in a downwards spiral lately. With Tatyana Kosheleva out, who will step up to fill her offensive void?
• How much will we see from South Korean players not named Kim Yeoun-Koung?
• How much will we see from Azeri Players not named Polina Rahimova? This wasn’t a simple copy and paste from the item above, as the two players are top-tier offensive talent in volleyball, but will have to make up for their lackluster teams.
• Nootsara Tomkom is one of the world’s best at the setter position. Watching her run an offense, even if the low-powered Thai one, is very entertaining.
• Trinidad & Tobago is making its WCH debut. Let’s hope it can at least win a few sets in its maiden run.

Schedule (Times are UTC +9)

Date	Time		Score		Set 1	Set 2	Set 3	Set 4	Set 5	Total	Report
29 Sep	13:40	Russia	–	Trinidad and Tobago
29 Sep	16:10	Azerbaijan	–	United States
29 Sep	19:20	South Korea	–	Thailand
30 Sep	13:40	United States	–	Trinidad and Tobago
30 Sep	16:10	Azerbaijan	–	South Korea
30 Sep	19:20	Thailand	–	Russia
2 Oct	13:40	Russia	–	Azerbaijan
2 Oct	16:10	Trinidad and Tobago	–	Thailand
2 Oct	19:20	United States	–	South Korea
3 Oct	13:40	Azerbaijan	–	Trinidad and Tobago
3 Oct	16:10	South Korea	–	Russia
3 Oct	19:20	Thailand	–	United States
4 Oct	13:40	Trinidad and Tobago	–	South Korea
4 Oct	16:10	Thailand	–	Azerbaijan
4 Oct	19:10	Russia	–	United States