World Grand Prix 2003

Russia beat Canada 3-0 (25-17, 25-17, 25-14) - duration 1.08
25-Jul, start time: 15.07, end time: 16.15 - Attendance: 150
Russia ease past Canada
Defending Grand Prix champions Russia beat newcomers Canada in three straight sets here in Matera on Friday to improve to 3-1 at the 2003 women’s volleyball World Grand Prix. Russia delivered the under-sized Canadians 25-17, 25-17, 25-14 in just over one hour for their third straight win in preliminary pool B after surprisingly falling to South Korea 3-2 on Monday. Going down tamely in the first set, the Canadians raced to a 5-1 lead behind Janis Kelly’s storming spikes and stayed ahead 15-14 midway through the second set. However, Russia surged back with an 11-2 run to make it two sets to none. “I am happy that we started very well in the second set and it seemed that they (Russia) took it easy after winning the first set,” said Canada head coach Lome Sawula at the press conference. “But we made some tactical mistakes and bad substitutions as they came back. At the end of the set, I did not like it very much,” he added. Russia had no big trouble in taking the third set as the Canadians surrendered their fourth match in succession at the Grand Prix. “We played very well in the third set,” said Russia head coach Nikolai Karpol. The winless Canadians were very happy to play in the top-level women’s tournament. “It is our first time to play in the highest level competition and I think we have a lot to learn,” Sawula said. “Tomorrow’s match against Thailand is very important for us.” Ekaterina Gamova had a game-high 13 points for Russia while Captain Evguen Artamonova and Anastasia Belikova added 11 each. The Canadians were led by Barb Bellini’s 11 points.