Press release

Ningbo, China, June 29, 2012 – World No. 1 and World Grand Prix title-holders the United States beat Turkey 3-1 here on Friday to remain as the only team unbeaten at the 2012 FIVB Volleyball World Grand Prix Finals.

Megan Hodge had 23 kills and five stuffs to lead the American women to their third straight victory in the six-team round robin tournament.  The World Grand Prix winners in the last two years also extended their winning-streak in this year’s event connecting preliminary and final rounds to 12 while the World Grand Prix Finals debutants from Turkey suffered their first defeat in three matches.

Beijing Olympic champions Brazil swept Cuba 3-0 for their second win in a row, sending the Cuban side to its third loss in three days. The Brazilians produced a total of 12 ace points, compared with five for Cuba.

In the last match of the day, Thailand upset the host China 3-2 for its first victory here in Ningbo while the Chinese women slipped to an 1-2 win-loss record.

After Friday’s action, the United States led the standings with eight points and Brazil was second at seven, followed by Turkey (6), China (4), Thailand (2) and Cuba (0).

For full match reports, press conference quotes, statistics and photos visit http://www.fivb.org/EN/volleyball/competitions/WorldGrandPrix/2012/LiveScore.asp

Top Scoring Performances
30 – Sittirak Onuma of Thailand v China (June 29)

28 – Megan Hodge of USA v Turkey (June 29)

27 – Darnel Neslihan of Turkey v Thailand (June 27)

Top Blocking Performances
7 – Christa Harmotto of USA v Turkey (June 29)

7 – Heather Bown of USA v Brazil (June 27)
7 – Fabiana Claudino of Brazil v USA (June 27)
7 – Menezes Thaisa of Brazil v China (June 28)

Top Blocking Performances by team
18 – USA v Brazil (June 27)
17 – Brazil v China (June 28)
17 – China v Thailand (June 29)

Top Serving Performance
5 – Silva Adenizia of Brazil v Cuba (June 29)

4 – Tomkom Nootsara of Thailand v Turkey (June 27)
4 – Toksoy Bahar of Turkey v Thailand (June 27)
4 – Darnel Neslihan of Turkey v Cuba (June 28)

4 – Thinkaow Pleumjit of Thailand v China (June 29)

Top Serving Performances by team
13 – Thailand against Turkey (June 27)
12 – Brazil against Cuba (June 29)

11 – Turkey against Cuba (June 28)

Highest scorer by week
Week 1: Hwang Youn-Joo/Rosanna Giel Ramos, 25 (Cuba v Korea)
Week 2: Serena Ortolani, 25 (Italy v Brazil)
Week 3: Serena Ortolani, 29 (Italy v Poland)
Finals: Sittirak Onuma, 30 (Thailand v China)
 
Highest set score
Week 1: Italy v Poland (31-29)
Week 2: China v Poland (29-27)
Week 3: Brazil v Cuba, Cuba v China (29-31)
Finals: China v Thailand (32-34)
  
Highest Scoring matches
Week 1: China v Cuba, 3-2 (29-31, 25-18, 25-19, 24-26, 15-8), 220 points
Week 2: Puerto Rico v Dominican Republic, 3-2 (25-19, 21-25, 25-23, 21-25, 15-12), 211 points
Week 3: Brazil v Cuba, 3-2 (29-31, 25-18, 25-19, 26-24, 15-8), 220 points
Finals: China v Thailand, 2-3 (25-21, 22-25, 32-34, 25-21, 13-15), 233 points

Top scorers