MATCH INFO

Trujillo, Peru, July 22, 2011—A lively crowd packed into the Gan Chimu Hall in Trujillo to loudly cheer for Korea. The fans were treated to a thrilling five-set victory for Korea against Poland on the opening day of the FIVB Volleyball Women’s Junior World Championship in Peru 2011 (22-25, 25-22, 24-26, 25-19, 15-10).

Initially, Korea struggled to spike the ball past Poland’s taller, imposing blockers, especially Ewelina Mikolajewska and Aleksandra Sikorska. However, with Poland leading (20-13). Poland made a great job in block, serve and spike in comparison to Korea which couldn’t score any point in block and serve. Korea mounted a comeback, causing Poland coach Grzegorz Kosatka to call a timeout at (24-22) to regroup his players. The strategy worked, as Zuzanna Czyznielewska, who had six points in the first game, spiked the final point. 

From the outset, Korea controlled the tempo of the second game with a balanced attack featuring precise serving and defense. Korea led by as many as seven points, but Poland managed to cut Korea’s lead to one late, behind six points in the game from Mikolajewska, before losing.Korea led for much of the third game, paced by eight points from Ji-Soo Kim. However, Poland managed to regain the lead at (21-20) for the first time since (7-6), as Sikorska and Czyznielewska both contributed six points.

Poland started this set scoring the first point. The Polish showed a better performance in terms in terms of block, spike and serve. Even, when the Koreans lacked in serve and block, they showed efficiency in their spikes. Both teams showed a lot of energy, but Poland did great in the end of this set.When the Polish captain Emilia Kaijzer had a moment of lack in concentration her partners Czyznielewska Zuzanna, Mikolajewska Ewelina and Sikorska Aleksandra took a big effort to complete the set. Korea spread the scoring around, with four players scoring three points.In the decisive fifth game, Korea started the final set scoring the first point, but the Polish team recovered and scored after the Korean point. Poland at the other hand showed a great organization among all the Volleyball players as well as well as Korea in this set. The Korean captain Lee Na-Yeon organized her players very well and Korea scored the final three points to win.Sikorska led Poland with 22 points, and Czyznielewska had 21. Ji-Soo Kim paced Korea with 21 points.

Korea, making its 13th appearance, won the first two editions in 1977 and 1981. Brazil (1987, 1989, 2001, 2003, 2005, 2007), Cuba (1985 and 1993) and Russia (1997, 1999) are the only other countries to have won the event more than once. Other past gold medalist teams are China (1995), Germany (2009) and USSR (1991).Korea will next challenge Belgium at 9.30 on July 23. Poland will play the United States at 15.30 on July