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Day Six
First defeat for USA; Brazil fail
to qualify
July
26, 2003 – World Champion silver medallists USA incurred their
first defeat so far at the 11th edition of the FIVB
$1 million World Grand Prix on Saturday when world champions
Italy scraped together only their second win taking out their
old rivals in a tense five setter 3-2 to round up the
preliminaries of this elite women’s annual volleyball
tournament. Italy came back from
two sets down to finish a creditable third in Pool A behind USA
and the Netherlands who won their place also the hard way,
unseating Germany, also in the tiebreaker to spoil their chances
of going further.
more Pic Italian euphoria after exacting a 3-2
victory over USA
Results
Standings
Italy def. USA 3-2 (23-25, 20-25, 25-23, 25-15, 15-9)
Match stats
Netherlands def. Germany 3-2
(25-21, 26-28, 22-25, 25-21, 15-13)
Match Stats
Korea humble Brazil; Russia defeats China
July
26, 2003 – Korea shook up Brazil on Saturday night with a 3-0
slamming that sent the Koreans dancing with joy and brought the
Brazilians down to earth with a thud, while Russia beat China
3-1 to keep the qualification for the next round open until
after the final matches of this FIVB $1 million World Grand
Prix, the elite women’s annual volleyball tournament.
Korea’s 3-0 (25-20, 25-21, 25-18) win took
them straight to the top of the Pool B table, with Russia and
China behind them, but Brazil’s defeat was the end of the road
for them at this World Grand Prix.
more
Pic: Korean joy knows no bounds after their win
against Brazil
Japan and Thailand wind up on a high note
July
26, 2003 – Japan defeated Cuba and Thailand beat Canada in their
final two matches in the preliminary round of the FIVB $1
million World Grand Prix, with all four teams fighting for the
honor of going out in a blaze of glory, and to avoid finishing
on the bottom of their respective Pool tables.
more
Pic: Thailand's Amporn Hyapha takes to the air to
deprive Canada of a victory
Saturday's matches:
Japan def. Cuba 3-2 (18-25, 25-18, 25-20, 19-25. 15-13
Match Stats
Thailand def. Canada 3-1 (28-26,
25-18, 20-25, 25-22)
Match Stats
Korea def Brazil 3-0 (25-20, 25-21, 25-18)
Match Stats
Russia def. China 3-1 (25-23, 21-25, 25-20, 28-26)
Match Stats
Day Five
Wrap-up:
USA unbeaten; Brazil blemishes China’s perfect record
Matera,
Italy, July 25, 2003 – The USA on Friday slogged its way to a
fourth straight win at the 2003 FIVB $1 million World Grand Prix
women’s volleyball tournament on Friday night, but not without
difficulties against a gritty Germany. In other top action,
Brazil blemished China's perfect record with a 3-1 victory in a
day that saw the competition tighten and even some of the best
were forced to bail themselves out of difficult situations. But
in perhaps the sensation of the day, so-far win-less Japan
fought back from two sets down to storm to victory over world
champions and hosts Italy to finish 3-2 (23-25, 16-25, 25-21,
26-24, 15-10). more
Fr
Pic: Exuberant Brazil after inflicting defeat on China for the first time in the tournament
South Korea outclass Thailand;
USA remains unbeaten after tough match with Germany
July
25, 2003 – South Korea outclassed Thailand 3-0 (25-21,
25-31, 25-10) Match
Stats on Friday to keep
alive their hopes of qualifying for the final round of the 2003
women’s volleyball World Grand Prix.
In other action just completed, the USA finally overpowered
Germany to retain their unbroken record of victory, but had to
fight out a bitter fourth set when finally fell in their favor
3-1 (25-21, 25-20, 17-25, 33-31)
South Korea, the surprising winners over defending champions
Russia on Monday, improved to three wins against one loss in
preliminary round Pool B that also included China, Brazil and
Canada.
more
Pic: Thailand's wing-spiker Patcharee attempting to break
through the Korean defense
Russia wins
third successive match
July
25, 2003 - The Women's World Grand Prix defending champions
Russia collected their third win in a row after defeating Canada
in comprehensive fashion 25-17, 25-17, 25-14 in Pool B's opening
match on Friday in Matera. The world number one team now has a
record of three wins and a loss - following their opening day
loss to Korea and look on track to progress to next week's Final
Round in defense of their title. More
Match
Stats In the other earlier match on
Friday, the Netherlands came back from two sets down to sneak a
thrilling 3-2 win over Cuba in Pool A 23-25, 19-25, 25-23,
25-16, 15-13. Match
Stats
Spanish
Pic:
Russia celebrate their easy 3-0 win over Canada
Crucial day
in race for top three
July
25, 2003 - The women's premier annual tournament the World Grand
Prix resumes today in Italy with day five of the preliminary
rounds providing crucial matches in the race for the top three
pool positions, which gain automatic qualification to next
week's World Grand Prix Finals.
In Gioia del Colle, the first
game in Pool A at 13.07 GMT sees the Netherlands (3rd) take on
Cuba (5th) before a huge clash between the unbeaten pool leaders
USA and 2nd-placed Germany at 16.07 GMT.
In Pool B in Matera,
Canada (5th) starts proceedings at 13.07 GMT with their match against
the defending champions Russia (3rd) before Korea (4th) takes on
Thailand (6th) at 16.07 GMT and a big showdown between unbeaten
China (1st) and Brazil (2nd) at 19.07 GMT.
Pic: Brazil
play China in a key Pool B game today
Day Four (Rest Day)
Day Three
Russia levels Brazil; USA remains
unbeaten; Italy falls to Cuba
July
23, 2003 - Russia rolled out the heavy artillery on Wednesday
night and battled their way through five sets to blast Brazil
off the court in one of the most powerful matches so far in this
year’s edition of the World Grand Prix while in other action the
USA took just 75
minutes to wrap up their crisp 3-0 victory against the
Netherlands to retain their unbeaten record in the competition
so far.
more
French
Pic: Cuba celebrates tiebreaker victory over
hosts Italy
Standings
Results
Full
match schedule
Match
Stats Italy v Cuba Match
Stats Thailand v China
Russia
knocks over Brazil in 5-set thriller
July
23, 2003 Russia pulled out all their big guns on Wednesday night
but it still took them five sets and one hour 44 minutes to
blast Brazil off the court in one of the most powerful matches
so far in this year's edition of the World Grand Prix. In other
action Germany downed Japan 3-1. Russia settled the match 3-2
(25-16, 20-25, 25-17, 21-15 and 15-13) with coach Nikolai Karpol
fielding his starting six heavyweights and working them on the
court for the entire match. more
Pic Russia's Anastasia Belakova celebrates a hard
fought victory
Match Stats Russia vs Brazil,
Match stats Germany vs. Japan
USA
prevails in top of the
table clash
July
23, 2003 - The opening feature clash on day three of the World
Grand Prix in Italy has seen USA take the honors in the battle
between the two unbeaten sides in
Pool A. USA beat the Netherlands 3-0 (25-23, 25-20, 25-15). More
Meanwhile Korea held off a determined Canadian side 3-1 (25-18,
18-25, 25-13, 25-23) in the Pool B match played in Matera.
Pic: Canada pushed Korea close before going down in four sets
Match stats Canada vs. Korea
Match stats
USA vs Netherlands
Day Two
Going gets tough
when the tough get going
Matera,
Italy, July 22, 2003 – The FIVB $1 million World Grand Prix
ended on a dramatic note on Tuesday night with two extraordinary
matches that saw China triumph over Korea and the Netherlands
pulling off a surprise victory over hosts and world champions
Italy in a five-set thriller. China and Korea fought a 29-27
battle royal in their opening set, before Korea crumbled in
their second, scoring a mere eight points before going down
courageously in the third to present China with their second
straight win.
China, the Asian powerhouse, faces Thailand on Wednesday before
two tough matches with natural adversaries Brazil and Russia.
Pic: Superb set by China's Feng Kun more
Spanish
French
Match
Stats China vs. Korea;
Match Stats Italy vs. Netherlands
Brazil wins second match, Germany back on top
Matera,
Italy, July 22, 2003 – Brazil signaled their seriousness in
heading for the World Grand Prix title on Tuesday with a
comfortable straight sets win over Canada while Germany, despite
a brief third set lapse of concentration, plowed through the
young Cuban side to go 3-1 up in Pool A in the second day of
play at the FIVB $1 million World Grand Prix. Earlier USA beat
Japan in a tight tiebreaker that at times had the Americans on
the run, while Russia reversed their losing trend with an easy
win over Thailand in straight sets. Brazil hardly seemed
troubled in their contest with Canada, emerging 3-0 (25-23,
25-18, 25-20) winners, which gave coach Marco Motta more
confidence after his claim on Monday that the green-and-golds
had come intent on winning the title. more
Spanish
Pic: Virna unleases another attack on Canada as Brazil cruise to a 3-0 win
Match Stats Bra vs Can
Match Stats Ger vs Cub
Russia and
USA win opening matches on Day 2
July
22, 2003 - USA have maintained their unbeaten record in the
World Grand Prix with a nailbiting 3-2 (24-26, 25-17, 25-15, 23-25, 15-12)
over Japan in
their other Pool A match in Gioia del Colle, Italy on Tuesday.
After conceding a first set lead USA stormed through to win the
following two sets before Japan fought back and gave USA a scare
by winning the fourth before USA prevailed in the fifth set tie
breaker. “This was not a
pretty match," said USA coach Toshiaki Yoshida. "It
was almost a nightmare, although the statistics say we won.”
USA captain Danielle Scott said the match typified the high
quality of play at the tournament. “The Japanese side showed
very good defense and this proves that there will be no easy
matches at this championship. All the teams are very good.”
Japanese coach Shoichi Yanagimoto said; “We simply tried too
hard to win this match”. Meanwhile defending World Grand Prix champions Russia
recorded their first victory in the 2003 edition after beating
Thailand on Tuesday in straight sets 25-18, 25-21, 25-19 in
Matera. The No 1 ranked team in the world needed to win
the match after losing their opening Pool B match on Monday
night to Korea 3-1.
Spanish
Match Stats Jap
vs USA
Match Stats
Rus vs. Tha
Pic:
Thailand on attack against an impressive Russian wall
USA
need five sets to beat Japan
GIOIA
DEL COLLE, Italy, July 22, 2003 – Keba Phipps scored a
match-high 21 points to lead five players in double figures as
the U.S. women’s national volleyball team edged Japan, 3-2, to
improve to 2-0 at the 2003 FIVB World Grand Prix Tuesday
afternoon at the Palazzo dello Sport. Phipps had 17 kills, three
service aces and one block in the 24-26, 25-17, 25-15, 23-25,
15-12 victory in Pool A. "This was not a pretty
match," said Team USA head coach Toshi Yoshida. "It
was almost a nightmare, although the statistics say we
won." More
Pic: USA dug deep to beat Japan
Day One
Korea
pulls off late night upset; defeats Russia 
Matera, Italy, 21 July – Korea pulled off a late night
surprise on the opening day of the World Grand Prix when they
defeated titleholders Russia 3-1 (25-19, 19-25, 25-18, 31-29) in
just six minutes shy of two hours. Korea started strongly and
secured the first set, then following a short power failure in
the stadium, Russia clambered back to level at one set all. But
the Koreans showed determination and were undeterred going into
the third set, pulling up the powerful Russians once again, then,
in a spectacular fourth set, secured the match.
Speaking after the match, the Russian captain Evgenia Artamonova
said that her team had suffered in the heat. Temperatures were
around the mid 30's Celsius on Monday night in this southern
Italian town.
More
Spanish
Match
Stats
Pic: Korea launches fierce attack on
Russia to help fuel late night surprise
USA open with
sweep of Cuba
Gioia
del Colle, Italy, July 21, 2003 – Team captain Danielle Scott
scored a match-high 11 points to lead four players in double
figures as the U.S. women’s national volleyball team swept
past Cuba 3-0 ( 25-22, 25-19, 25-14) to begin the 2003 FIVB
World Grand Prix Monday night at the Palazzo dello Sport. Scott,
the Most Valuable Player of this tournament in 2001 when the
United States won the gold medal, had seven kills and a
match-high four blocks in the 25-22, 25-19, 25-14 victory in
Pool A. Keba Phipps, Elisha Thomas and Logan Tom added 10 points
apiece as Team USA won its sixth match in a row to improve to
10-6 on the season.
More
Spanish
Match stats
Pic: USA celebrate as they charge towards
victory over Cuba
Big Teams make deep cuts in opposition on opening day
Giola
del Colle, Italy, July 21 – The world’s elite women’s volleyball
teams launched an unrelenting attack on the underdogs on Monday
in opening matches of the FIVB 2003 World Grand Prix, the
premier annual tournament for women. But hosts and world
champions Italy, perhaps under pressure in front of their home
crowds, conceded a set to Germany, on a day that saw all other
matches decided in straight sets. more French
Spanish
Pic Italy celebrates 3-1 victory over Germany
Late matches: USA beats Cuba 3-0
Match stats
China sweeps Canada 3-0 on opening day; Italy 3-1 against
Germany:
Gioia
del Colle, Italy, July 21, 2003 - China started in top gear for
their opening match of the 2003 World Grand Prix with a 3-0
victory over newcomers Canada. Canada stayed in the game for the
first set, but was overrun by the tall and powerful Chinese in
the remaining two sets. China finished with 25-22, 25-24 and
25-15.
Meanwhile, in the fourth match of the day ,
Italy faced Germany and settled 3-1 (24-26, 25-22, 25-19, 25-22)
in their favor but not without a struggle and not without highs
and lows on both sides. China deployed some heavy weapons
against Canada with big hitters Liu Yanan and Zhou Suhong
powering home 18 spike points between them, even though it was
Canada's Janis Kelly that took honors for top scorer with 13
points. more Spanish
Pic: Big hitting J.L. Chu powers home a spike against Canada
China vs. Canada Match Stats
Italy
vs. Germany match Stats
Brazil and the Netherlands win opening matches
Matra,
Italy, July 21, 2003 - Brazil cruised to their first
victory in the 2003 World Grand Prix with a
straightforward, straight sets win over Thailand in a
match that was settled in one hour and nine minutes.
Brazil showed no mercy and gave away few points for a
25-10, 25-17, 25-11 result that was clearly a Volleyball
lesson for the young Thai team. In other early match
action, Netherlands delivered a 3-0 smack to Japan in
their opening encounter at the Palazzo dello Sport in
the southern Italian city of Gioia del Colle.
more
Spanish
Brazil vs. Thailand Match
Stats
Netherlands vs. Japan Match Stats
Pic: Thailand on attack against Brazil
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PREVIEW |
China seek development in opening match
July
21, 2003 - The Chinese women's volleyball team will certainly
try their utmost during the World Grand Prix, which starts on
Monday in Italy but head coach Chen Zhonghe said his team will
be looking to use the women's premier annual event as a launch
pad towards a top three finish at the 2003 World Cup in November
in Japan. "We've got two jobs to do at the Grand
Prix," Zhonghe said before leading his side into their
opening match against Canada at 16:00GMT on Monday. "The
first is to further shape up the team and get prepared for the
World Cup and the second is for me to observe the performance of
some of the younger players". More Spanish
Pic: China lost to Russia in last year's World Grand Prix final
Counting down to the opening whistle
July
17, 2003 - From the July 21 to August 3 Italy will be
the theatre of dreams for the elite of women's
volleyball when the 2003 World Grand Prix takes place in
three gorgeous cities Matera, Gioia del Colle and
Andria. The stunningly attractive Matera and Gioia del
Colle will play host to 12 of the best teams in women's
volleyball in round robin play, before the World Grand
Prix Finals are held in Andria on the striking Adriatic
coast line. <br> This year is a very special year
for the World Grand Prix with this 11th edition of the
most important annual women's event being hosted for the
first time outside of Asia. More
Pic: Defending champions Russia will be the ones
to beat in 2003
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