Cali, Colombia, June, 10, 2016 - Kazakhstan proved too strong for Australia in Group 3 of the FIVB World Grand Prix 2016, beating them 3-0 (25-14, 25-6, 25-20) in Cali on Friday, with Irina Srenberger scoring a team-high eight points for Kazakhstan and Australia's Eliza Haynes scoring a match-high 10 points.
It is the third time in three meetings across the history of the competition Kazakhstan have beaten Australia, who remain in search of their first ever World Grand Prix win.
Kazakhstan's Yekaterina Zhdanova was the key player through the first part of the game, when Kazakhstan took an advantage and maintained it with help from Australian errors. Playing with strong middle blockers, Kazakhstan comfortably won the first set 25-14.
A quite similar story happened through the beginning of second set and despite Hynes' best efforts, the talent of Shenberger guided Kazakhstan to a considerable lead. Australia struggled and Kazakhstan romped to a 25-6 second-set win.
Australia were much more competitive in the third and stayed with Kazakhstan, levelling the scores at 12-12. Still though Kazakhstan pushed to an advantage and despite Australia saving two match points, first through a strong block and then a Hynes kill, the Volleyroos couldn't match their superior opponents who took the third set 25-20 and the game 3-0.
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