MATCH INFO

Tokyo, Japan, November 18, 2011 - Brazil powered past Dominican Republic in straight sets (25-21, 25-10, 25-17)  on the final day of fourth-round action in the FIVB Women's World Cup at Tokyo Metropolitan Gym on Friday afternoon.

The win gave Brazil a final record of 8-3 for the tournament, while Dominican finished 5-6.

Paula Pequeno (12 points) and Sheilla Castro (10 points) were the top scorers for the winners. Captain Fabiana Claudino added nine points in the triumph. Bethania De La Cruz tallied a team-high 11 points for Dominican in the loss.

Brazil's Adenizia Silva was named the most impressive player of the match.

Brazil's strength and resolve combined with a high number of unforced errors made it a difficult contest for Dominican. The Brazilians ran their option plays to near perfection in the victory.

Dominican Republic took an early timeout after falling behind 7-3 in the opening set, then saw Brazil take an 8-3 lead at the first TTO with Pequeno scoring four early points.

A receiving error by Dominican's Jeoselyna Rodriguez made it 11-4 for Brazil. Pequeno's block at the net boosted Brazil to a 14-6 advantage and the Dominicans called another timeout.

Miguelina Echenique made a nifty dink out of the timeout as Dominican tried to fight back, but Brazil maintained its margin and was up 16-10 at the second TTO.

A nice block at the net by Prisilla Rivera saw Dominican cut the deficit to 16-13 with its third straight point.

A fantastic dig by libero Brenda Castillo helped Dominican make it 16-15, before Rodriguez ended the run with a spike.

Brazil then re-established its power game, taking eight of the next 11 points to lead 23-19. Dominican staved off one set point when Castro sent a spike long, but Castro came right back and finished the set with another blast.

Brazil began to impose their will in the second set, taking an 8-4 lead at the first TTO. Pequeno drilled a spike right down the middle of the Dominican defence to make it 9-6.

A run of seven straight points put Brazil in clear control as the score was 16-6 as the second TTO with Pequeno, Castro and Claudino leading the way.

Dominican pounded spike after spike only to see them either blocked at the net or sail long as Brazil continued to increase its lead and take the set 25-10.

The Dominicans took a timeout after Brazil established a 5-2 lead in the third set. Milagros Cabral executed a nice spike out of the timeout to make it 5-3, then had a nice block moments later for 6-5.

Brazil was up 8-5 at the first TTO. After the Dominican pulled within 9-8, Brazil's Welissa Gonzaga smashed a spike to make it 10-8.

Bethania De La Cruz pulled the Dominicans even at 10-10 with a textbook spike into an open space in the Brazil defense.

Just when it looked like Dominican was back in the set, Brazil scored three straight points for a 13-10 lead and was ahead 16-12 at the second TTO.

Fifteen-year-old Elizabeth Martinez saw a action in the final set for Dominican.

A long spike attempt by Cabral that went long put Brazil within two points of victory and Dominican Republic took another timeout. Echenique then served into the net and Brazil completed the win on a block by Adenizia Silva.