Bangkok, Thailand, July 9, 2016 – Brazil and the United States advanced to the 2016 FIVB Volleyball World Grand Prix title match with a straight-set sweep of the Netherlands and Russia, respectively, at Indoor Stadium Huamark on Saturday.
Brazil defeated the Netherlands 3-0 in the first semifinal match-up to reinforce their reign as the all-time leader in podium finishes in the World Grand Prix. Brazil’s victory previews a 16th top two finishes in 22 participations and a possible 11th World Grand Prix title triumph, which are the most victories produced by any team team in the tournament.
Brazilian outside spiker Natalia Pereira led the team in points, but the rest of the starters also delivered points to balance-out their offence. Their setter Danielle Lins had an excellent job, as she involved each player to score on opportunities in various positions. The Netherlands suffered on defence as their captain Maret Balkestein-Grothues ailed from an injury during warm-up that affected their drive to match-up well with Brazil.
In the second semifinal match, USA accomplished another feat to defend their World Grand Prix title, following their straight-set win over Russia. Apart from defending the title, USA will have the opportunity to earn their seventh gold medal and increase their medal haul in the tournament.
FIVB Volleyball Women’s World Championship Poland 2014 MVP Kimberly Hill logged 17 points to help USA dominate Russia throughout the match. Hill outscored her Russian counterpart Nataliya Goncharova, who only managed to score 14 points. The Russians dominated in blocks, but the aggressive USA side served well to pressure their rivals. Hill had five service aces.
The final order of matches for the 2016 World Grand Prix on Sunday, July 10, will feature hosts Thailand against their Asian neighbours China at 12:00 local time, followed by the bronze medal match between the Netherlands and Russia at 15:00 local time, and the much-anticipated gold medal match between Brazil and USA at 18:00.
Top Scorer by Day
31 - Angela Leyva of Peru v Kazakhstan on June 3
25 - Bethania De La Cruz De Peña of Dominican Republic v Argentina on June 4
29 – Berenika Tomsia of Poland v Puerto Rico on June 5
20 - Sarina Koga of Japan v Serbia on June 9
31 – Berenika Tomsia of Poland v Argentina on June 10
28 – Angela Leyva of Peru v Cuba on June 11
30 – Paola Egonu of Italy v Japan on June 12
28 – Angela Leyva of Peru v Croatia on June 18
24 - Nataliya Goncharova of Russia v Italy on June 19
26 – Paola Egonu of Italy v Brazil on June 24
24 – Brankica Mihajlovic of Serbia v Japan on June 25
24 – Nataliya Goncharova of Russia v Japan on June 26
23 – Natalia Pereira of Brazil v Thailand on July 6
31 – Lonneke Sloetjes of Netherlands v China on July 7
27 – Nataliya Goncharova of Russia v Thailand on July 8
17 – Kimberly Hill of USA v Russia on July 9
Top Scoring Performances
31 - Angela Leyva of Peru v Kazakhstan on June 3
31 – Berenika Tomsia of Poland v Argentina on June 10
31 – Lonneke Sloetjes of Netherlands v China on July 7
30 – Paola Egonu of Italy v Japan on June 12
29 – Berenika Tomsia of Poland v Puerto Rico on June 5
28 – Angela Leyva of Peru v Cuba on June 11
28 – Petra Kojdova of Czech Republic v Dominican Republic on June 12
27 - Angela Leyva of Peru v Croatia on June 18
27 – Nataliya Goncharova of Russia v Thailand on July 8
26 – Heidy Rodriguez Lopez of Cuba v Colombia on June 5
26 - Emiliya Nikolova of Bulgaria v Dominican Republic on June 3
26 – Karina Ocasio of Puerto Rico v Argentina on June 11
26 – Lonneke Slöetjes of the Netherlands v Belgium on June 12
26 – Angela Leyva of Peru v Croatia on June 12
26 – Paola Egonu of Italy v Brazil on June 24
23 – Natalia Pereira of Brazil v Thailand on July 6
Top Individual Serving Performances
7 – Karla Klaric of Croatia v Algeria on June 11
6 – Antonella Del Core of Italy v Belgium on June 26
6 – Ana Grejman of Poland v Canada on June 3
5 – Kimberly Hill of USA v Russia on July 9
5 – Yvon Belien of Netherlands v USA on July 6
5 – Liu Xiaotong of China v Belgium on June 25
5 – Lise Van Heck of Belgium v Turkey on June 24
5 – Martyna Grajber of Poland v Argentina on June 10
5 – Yael Castiglione of Argentina v Dominican Republic on June 4
4 – Tijana Malesevic of Serbia v Thailand on June 26
4 – Jovana Stevanovic of Serbia v Thailand on June 26
4 – Ajcharaporn Kongyot of Thailand v Serbia on June 26
4 – Wilavan Apinyapong of Thailand v Serbia on June 26
4 –Tashiro Kanami of Japan v Italy on June 12
4 – Valentina Diouf of Italy v Japan on June 12
4 – Baladin Hande of Turkey v Russia on June 12
4 – Aydinlar Nursevil of Turkey v Belgium on June 10
4 – Achour Merwa of Algeria v Cuba on June 12
4 – Carranza Dulce of Mexico v Australia on June 12
4 – Resendiz Claudia of Mexico v Australia on June 12
Top Team Serving Performances
13 – Croatia v Cuba on June 3
12 – Thailand v Serbia on June 26
12 – Kazakhstan v Algeria on June 4
12 – Mexico v Australia on June 12
12 – Belgium v Turkey on June 24
11 – Serbia v Thailand on June 26
11 - Poland v Argentina on June 10
10 – Italy v Belgium on June 26
10 – Croatia v Peru on June 12
10 – Italy v Japan on June 12
10 – Turkey v Russia on June 12
10 – Australia v Mexico on June 12
9 – USA v Russia on July 9
9 – Netherlands v China on July 7
9 - Croatia v Peru on June 18
9 – Japan v Italy on June 12
9 – Croatia v Algeria on June 11
9 – Peru v Cuba on June 11
9 – Bulgaria v Argentina on June 5
7 – Netherlands v USA on July 6
Top Individual Blocking Performances
9 – Irina Zaryazhko of Russia v Thailand on June 25
7 – Fabiana Claudino – Brazil v Italy on June 24
7 – Agnieszka Kakolewska of Poland v Bulgaria on June 18
7 – Cristina Chirichella of Italy v Serbia on June 10
7 – Fabiana Claudino of Brazil v Italy on June 9
7 – Daimara Lescay Cajigal of Cuba v Colombia on June 5
7 – Candida Estefany Arias Perez of Dominican Republic v Bulgaria on June 3
7 – Charuk Lucille of Canada v Bulgaria on June 12
6 – Rachael Adams of USA v China on July 8
6 – Irina Zaryazhko of Russia v Japan on June 26
6 – Nataliya Goncharova of Russia v Japan on June 26
6 – Xu Yunli of China v Germany on June 25
6 – Tatiana Kosheleva of Russia v Serbia on June 24
6 – Jovana Stevanovic of Serbia v Russia on June 24
6 – Freya Aelbrecht of Belgium v Turkey on June 24
6 – Silge Wiebke of Germany v Thailand on June 12
6 – Carey Beth of Australia v Mexico on June 12
6 – Vargas Annerys of Dominican Republic v Czech Republic on June 12
6 – Christa Harmotto Dietzen of United States v Thailand on June 11
6 – Heidy Casanova Alvarez of Cuba v Peru on June 11
6 – Daimara Lescay Cajigal of Cuba v Peru on June 11
6 – Julieta Lascano of Argentina v Poland on June 10
5 – Ksenia Ilchenko of Russia v Thailand on July 8
5 – Lonneke Sloetjes of Netherlands v Brazil on July 7
4 – Irina Fetisova of Russia v USA on July 9
4- Rachael Adams of USA v Russia on July 9
4 – Natalia Pereira of Brazil v Netherlands on July 9
4 – Nataliya Goncharova of Russia v Thailand on July 8
4 – Irina Fetisova of Russia v Thailand on July 8
4 – Fernanda Rodrigues of Brazil v Thailand on July 6
Top Team Blocking Performances
22 – Russia v Thailand on June 25
19 – Poland v Bulgaria on June 18
19 – Cuba v Peru on June 11
19 – Italy v Serbia on June 10
18 – Russia v Serbia on June 24
18 – Poland v Czech Republic on June 4
17 – Russia v Serbia on June 24
17 - Brazil v Italy on June 9
17 – USA v China on June 12
16 – Russia v Japan on June 26
16 – Italy v Japan on June 12
16 – Poland v Argentina on June 10
16 – Poland v Canada on June 3
16 – Peru v Algeria on June 5
16 – Germany v Japan on June 19
15 – Russia v USA on July 9
15 – Russia v Thailand on July 8
15 – Brazil v Russia on July 7
11 – Brazil v Netherlands on July 9
11 – Brazil v Thailand on July 6
Highest Scoring Sets
31-29 – Serbia v Italy on June 10
31-29 – Japan v Serbia on June 9
30-28 – USA v Germany on June 24
30-28 – Puerto Rico v Argentina on June 11
30-28 – Canada v Poland on June 3
29-27 – Dominican Republic v Puerto Rico on June 18
29-27 – United States v Thailand on June 11
29-27 – Mexico v Australia on June 12
29-27 – Croatia v Peru on June 18
29-27 – Croatia v Kazakhstan on June 19
27-25 – Serbia v Japan on June 25
27-25 – Russia v Thailand on July 8
26-24 – Brazil v Thailand on July 6
25-23 – Brazil v Netherlands on July 9
25-23 – China v Netherlands on July 7
Highest Scoring Matches
219 – Bulgaria v Canada 3-2 (25-22, 22-25, 21-25, 28-26, 15-10) on June 12
218 – Serbia v Russia 3-2 (25-23, 27-25, 21-25, 20-25, 15-12) on June 24
213 – Puerto Rico v Poland 3-2 (18-25, 25-23, 15-25, 28-26, 15-13) on June 5
213 – Italy v Japan 3-2 (25-20, 25-20, 23-25, 25-27, 15-8) on June 12
211 – Poland v Argentina 3-2 (25-23, 24-26, 25-15, 23-25, 15-10) on June 10
210 – Russia v Turkey 3-2 (26-24, 20-25, 20-25, 25-20. 15-10) on June 12
210 – Serbia v Japan 3-2 (25-23, 20-25, 17-25, 27-25, 15-8) on June 25
206 – Dominican Republic v Czech Republic 3-2 (25-22, 15-25, 25-21, 24-26, 15-8) on June 12
206 - Dominican Republic v Argentina 3-2 (22-25, 25-16, 25-16, 25-15, 23-25, 16-14) on June 4
205 – Russia v Italy 3-2 (19-25, 25-15, 25-22, 22-25, 15-10) on June 19
203 - Kazakhstan v Colombia 3-2 (25-20, 25-20, 21-25, 18-25, 15-9) on June 18
202 – Bulgaria v Dominican Republic 3-2 (23-25, 25-20, 25-18, 17-25) on June 3
199 – Netherlands v China 3-2 (23-25, 25-14, 19-25, 25-20, 15-8) on July 7
146 – Russia v Thailand 3-0 (27-25, 26-24, 25-19) on July 8
136 – USA v Netherlands 3-0 (25-21, 25-17, 25-23) on July 6