Lausanne, Switzerland, June 25, 2016 – Brazil secured their slot for the FIVB Volleyball World Grand Prix Group 1 Finals with a four-set victory over Belgium, while the Netherlands and Serbia vie for the fifth and final slot to complete this year’s final six cast.
Brazil, who lost two matches on the second week in Macau, reacted superbly with back-to-back wins in the third week in Ankara, including the 3-1 victory over Belgium that guaranteed them a Finals berth. The Brazilians now hold a 6-2 record which they could still improve on Sunday when they face hosts Turkey, who themselves lost to Italy in four sets.
USA and China prevailed in their Pool H1 matches in Hong Kong. The reigning World Grand Prix champions, USA, stood their ground against a feisty Netherlands side in a four-set match, while China maintained their winning streak with a straight-set victory over Germany.
In Kyoto, European sides Russia and Serbia triumphed over Asian squads Thailand and Japan, respectively. After taking the first two sets, Russia lost their focus on the third set against Thailand, but somehow the European champions regained their composure and produced a convincing 3-1 win.
Meanwhile, Serbia played its fifth consecutive tie-breaker but kept a favourable outcome as they outplayed hosts Japan, to stay in contention for the last Final Six spot.
With one day left to go in the Preliminary Round it will be just Serbia and the Netherlands striving for Bangkok. For the rest, there will still be pride to play for.
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
Top Scoring Performances
31 - Angela Leyva of Peru v Kazakhstan on June 3
31 – Berenika Tomsia of Poland v Argentina on June 10
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
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
Top Individual Serving Performances
7 – Karla Klaric of Croatia v Algeria on June 11
6 – Ana Grejman of Poland v Canada on June 3
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 –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 – Kazakhstan v Algeria on June 4
12 – Mexico v Australia on June 12
12 – Belgium v Turkey on June 24
11 - Poland v Argentina on June 10
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 - 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
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 – 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
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 – 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
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
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