Press release

Tokyo, Japan, May 25, 2012 – World champions Russia took a major step towards the London Olympic Games following their triumph over Serbia in the fifth day of action of the FIVB World Women’s Olympic Qualifying Tournament at Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium on Friday.

Since the event doubles as Asian Continental Olympic Qualifier, the top three teams at the end of the competition plus the best Asian team not among the medalists will get spots for the Summer Games at the British capital.

Russia expanded their unbeaten record to 5-0 with a four-set (25-18, 25-11, 14-25, 25-22) victory over Serbia who dropped to 3-2. The winners have two remaining matches against hosts Japan on Saturday and the winless Chinese Taipei on Sunday.

“We had a problem with receiving in the third set but we were able to solve the problem and get the win,” Russia’s coach Sergey Ovchinnikov said. “I am happy with the victory and hope Serbia team can win its last two matches.”

Japan improved to 4-1 win-loss record while Thailand (3-2) and Korea (3-2) also came out winners on Friday.

Japan outlasted Cuba in a five-set thriller (25-23, 18-25, 25-16, 23-25, 17-15), the first contest of the competition stretched to the limit. The losers dropped to a 1-4 mark.

“We won in five sets,” Japan’s coach Masayoshi Manabe said during the press conference after the match “Saori Sakoda, Kanako Hirai and Risa Shinnabe saved us.”

Thailand downed Peru in straight sets (25-19, 25-19, 25-20) to improve their win-loss record to 3-2 while Peru fell to 1-4 with the loss.

“I am happy with the victory but not satisfied with the way our team played,” Thai coach Kiattipong Radchatagriengkai said. “We can improve on our technique for the next match.”

Korea downed Chinese Taipei in straight sets (25-8, 25-12, 25-18) as they also improved to 3-2 with the victory, while Chinese Taipei remained winless at 0-5.

“It seemed that our opponent was every nervous today,” Korea’s coach Kim Hyung-Sil said. “This allowed us to play with a free manner in the match. With confidence we will keep going on.”

Saturday’s schedule features Peru v Serbia, Cuba v Chinese Taipei, Thailand v Korea and Japan v Russia.

LIVE SCOREBOX
Day 5 | May 25, 2012

Best scorers

Highest Scorers day- by- day
18 – Milena Rasic of Serbia v Chinese Taipei (19-5-12)
21 – Saori Kimura of Japan v Chinese Taipei (20-5-12)
30 – Kim Yeon-Koung of Korea v Serbia (22-5-12)
34 – Kim Yeon-Koung of Korea v Japan (23-5-12)
22 – Yoana Palacios of Cuba v Japan (25-5-12)

Top- Scoring Performances
34 – Kim Yeon-Koung of Korea v Japan (23-5-12)
30 – Kim Yeon-Koung of Korea v Serbia (22-5-12)
22 – Jovana Brakocevic of Serbia v Korea (22-5-12)
22 – Yoana Palacios of Cuba v Japan (25-5-12)
21 – Saori Kimura of Japan v Chinese Taipei (20-5-12)
21 – Yukiko Ebata of Japan v Thailand (22-5-12)
21 – Kimura Saori of Japan v Korea (23-5-12)

Top- Blocking Performances
6 - Yusidey Silie of Cuba v Japan (25-5-12)
5 – Milena Rasic of Serbia v Chinese Taipei (19-5-12)
5 – Maria Perepelkina of Russia v Thailand (19-5-12)
5 – Maria Borisenko of Russia v Korea (20-5-12)
5 – Pleumjit Thinkaow of Thailand v Chinese Taipei (23-5-12)
5 – Yang Hyo-Jin of Korea v Chinese Taipei (25-5-12)
4 – Several Players

Top-Serving Performances
6– Yanelis Santos of Cuba v Japan (25-5-12)
5 – Saori Kimura of Japan v Cuba (25-5-12)
4 – Yanelis Santos of Cuba v Korea (19-5-12)
4 – Yang Hyo-Jin of Korea v Chinese Taipei (25-5-12)
3 – Several Players