MATCH INFO

Lima, Peru, July 30, 2011 - Dominican Republic defeated Slovakia 25-18, 17-25, 25-19, 25-18 Saturday in the 5-8 classification semifinal of the FIVB Volleyball Women´s Junior World Championship Peru 2011 played today at the Eduardo Dibos Coliseum.

Dominican Republic will play for fifth place in the tournament on Sunday against either Peru or Belgium who play later on Saturday. Slovakia will play the Peru-Belgium loser for seventh place.

The top scorers for Dominican Republic were Marianne Fersola and Elizabeth Martinez, both with 20 points, next to Candida Arias with 10 points. The top scorers of Slovakia were Nikola Radosova and Tatiana Crkonova with 12 points each, next to Karin Palgutova with 10 points. Dominican Republic's block create a 13-7 advantage to offset Slovakia's 9-7 margin in service aces.

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The beginning of the first set was positive for Slovakia until a spike of the Dominican Republic player Ana Binet turned the score to 6-5 in their favor. The first technical time out came 8-5 in favor of Dominican Republic after a spike of Elizabeth Martinez (six points in the set). Dominican Republic got a five-point advantage at 11-6 thanks to a spike of Gabriela Reyes. Slovakia, thanks mostly for the attacks of Nikola Radosova (four points in the set), approached Dominican Republic in the score (13-12) and the Dominican Republic coach Wagner Pacheco asked for his first time out. The second technical time out came 16-13 in favor of the Dominican Republic squad. Slovakia coach Marek Rojko asked for their first time out when Dominican Republic squad reached a four-point advantage at 18-14. Trailing 20-15, the Slovakia coach asked for their second time out. Dominican Republic reached their 24th point with an advantage of six points (24-18). The set ended 25-18 in 27 minutes with a blocking point of Candida Arias.

The start of the second set was very tight. Slovakia was able to reach a two-point difference in their favor at 5-3 with a spike of Karin Palgutova that defeated the Dominican Republic block. The first technical time out came at 8-5 in favor of Slovakia with a spike of Simona Kosova. Dominican Republic tied the score 8-8 with a point from Candida Arias (two points in the set). The second technical time out came with a three-point difference in favor of Slovakia (16-13). When the advantage for Slovakia grew to four points (17-13) because of a spike error of the Dominican Elizabeth Martinez, Wagner Pacheco asked for his first time out of the set. The second time out for Dominican Republic was asked at 20-13 after four Slovakia points in a row. With a spike of Dominika Dropnakova (four points in the set), Slovakia reached the score of 24-15. The set ended 25-17 in 25 minutes with a spike of Tatiana Crknova (two points in the set).

The third set started with an advantage of four points for Dominican Republic (6-2) as they broke a 2-all tie and Rojko asked for his first time out. Dominican Republic reached the first technical time out with only a two-point advantage (8-6). Slovakia approached Dominican Republic in the score (13-12), but Dominican Republic reached the second technical time out with a 16-14 advantage after a spike of their top scorer Elizabeth Martinez (five points in the set). Dominican Republic reached a seven-point advantage (23-16) with a spike of Ana Binet (six points in the set). Pacheco asked for his first time out leading 24-19. The set ended with a victory for Dominican Republic 25-19 in 25 minutes with a spike error of the Slovak squad.

In the fourth set, Dominican Republic got a four-point advantage (6-2) scoring 4 straight points. The first technical time out came 8-2 because of a  reception error of Slovakia libero Lucia Nikmonova after a serve of Dominican Republic's Ana Binet (seven points in a row with her service). Dominican Republic head coach asked for his first time out leading (9-5) after three straight Slovakia points, Tatiana Crkonova (12 points in the match) scored 2 of them. Rojko asked for his first time out trailing 13-9. Slovakia tied the score (14-14) after four points in a row with Nikola Radosova serving (two aces in the set). The second technical time out came 16-14 with a spike of Marianne Fersola (20 points in the match). Slovakia asked for their second time out at 18-15. Slovakia tied the score 18-18 and the Dominican Republic coach asked for his first time out. Dominican Republic won the set 25-18 in 25 minutes with a blocking point of Candida Arias (four blocking points in the game).