Press release
China overcomes eight-point deficit in final set to defeat Slovakia
Chinas Yang Fangxu spikes against Slovakia in the late match at Gran Chimo Arena, Trujillo, Peru
Trujillo, Peru, July 26, 2011—Refusing to give up, China overcame an eight-point deficit late in the fourth set to beat Slovakia 3-1 (23-25, 25-20, 25-23, 25-21) in a Pool F matchup of the second round of the FIVB Volleyball Women’s Junior World Championship in Peru 2011.
It was the first of three games for both teams in the second round.
China’s Zhou Yang, who has scored the third most points in the tournament, had 13 points. Tatiana Crkonova and Simona Kosova both had 18 points for Slovakia. Slovakia, the best serving team to date, had 12 points off serves. China, the team with the highest average blocks per set, had 12 blocks, which was three less than Slovakia.
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The two teams frequently traded leads in the first set. The height of China seemed to bother Slovakia, as Peixin Liu had two points off of blocks for China. With 16 points won off spikes, China had twice as many as Slovakia. Yanchi Pi led China with seven points. Yanchi Pi and Di Yao combined to convert 11 of 13 dig attempts for China.
Slovakia led for most of the second set. Tatiana Crkonova came alive for Slovakia in the second set, with nine points after only one point in the opening set, including three from blocks. Tatiana Crkonova combined with Simona Kosova to have 16 of Slovakia’s 25 points.
After China scored the first two points of the third set, Slovakia earned the next seven points with Simona Kosova serving. It did not take China long to make a rally of their own to tie the game at 14. Slovakia scored five points with China stuck at 24 points, but China held on to win the set.
The two evenly-matched squads continued trading leads early in the fourth set. Slovakia built an eight point lead, behind Nikola Radosova, who had six points in the set. However, China came roaring back, and tied the game at 20, led by Zhou Yang had four points in the set.
China will next play Belgium at 18.15 on July 27. Slovakia will challenge Brazil at 20.15 on July 27.
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