Press release

Callao, Peru, July 30, 2011—Russia defeated Japan in a thrilling five-set match 3-2 (23-25, 25-16, 25-17, 17-25, 15-11) in a Pool J matchup for Classification Places 9-12 in the FIVB Volleyball Women’s Junior World Championship in Peru 2011.

Russia will play Poland for ninth place on July 31 at 14.30 in Callao. Japan will compete against Cuba for eleventh place at 12.30 on July 31.

Yana Manzyuk led Russia with 20 points. Mari Horikawa paced Japan with 23 points. Russia scored 19 points from blocks, compared to three for Japan.

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The matchup pinned the taller Russian squad against the quicker Japanese team. Japan had more kills early, scoring seven of their first eight points on spikes, as they earned a (8-5) lead by the first technical timeout. Russia rebounded to tie the score at eight. The two teams frequently traded leads, with Japan winning behind six points from Mari Horikawa. Russia’s Valeriya Safonova had the only two blocks of the set.

Russia rebounded in the second set, scoring eight of the first nine points. Valeriya Safonova had the winning kill for Russia. Yana Manzyuk had nine points in the set for Russia. Russia had eight blocks in the set, while Japan zero.

Japan struggled with Russia’s height in the third set. Russia had 10 spikes, and six blocks. Yana Manzyuk had six points in the set, including three blocks. Anastasia Anufrienko scored the winning kill.

The two teams traded leads several times in the fourth set, with Japan wearing Russia out with quick team defense. Japan scored four points from serves in the set. Mari Horikawa scored six points in the set for Japan.

In the decisive fifth set, the two teams traded points, tying the score at every point from one to seven. Russia held the lead the rest of the way, and won the match on a serving ace by Anastasia Bavykina.