Russia beat China 3-1 (25-20, 21-25, 25-23, 25-16) - duration 1:39
14-Sep, start time: 18:00, end time: 19:39 - Attendance: 5,677 Russia takes bronze medal
Russia took the bronze medal of the 2002 Women's World Championship. The Russian team defeated China in the match for the third position. The European champion took a 3-1 victory over Asian's best in Berlin on Saturday. China started the first set better than Russia, but the European champion took over the lead in the middle set. The battle between the two giants, the Russian Ekaterina Gamova (2.05 meter) and the Chinese Ruirui Zhao (1.96 meter), was very exciting at the end of the set, when a lot of long rallies were played. Russia kept concentrated at the end of the set (25-20). In the second set, China attacked and blocked better than the Russian opponent. At the moment Russia was going to lose the rallies, China made a gap of six points. Russia came back thanks to some jump serves of Elena Plotnikova. Hao Yang spiked China to the set victory (25-21). Russia took the third set again (25-23). Both teams stayed close to each other during the entire set. Russia scored some consecutive points after 20-20 and the two points lead the European Champion made was enough to clinch the set. Russia immediately took the lead in the third set. Some power attacks of Gamova and captain Evguenia Artamonova gave Russia a 9-4 advantage. China was too tired to come back and couldn't defend the Russian attacks anymore, so Russia took the bronze winning the fourth set 25-16. Ekaterina Gamova was the best scorer with 28 points.
