Wonderful view of Macau Forum where China beat Belgium in straight sets and Serbia handed Brazil their first loss of the tournament
Lausanne, Switzerland, June 17, 2016 - Three-time champions Russia and 2003 winners China both recorded victories on Friday to claim their fourth win from as many matches in the FIVB Volleyball World Grand Prix Group 1. Meanwhile, Group 2 & 3 prepare for semifinals in Bulgaria and Kazakhstan respectively.
China and Russia took comfortable 3-0 wins over their European opponents Belgium and the Netherlands in Macau and Bari respectively with many sides looking to manoeuvre themselves into a position for a chance to make it through to the Group 1 finals with five matches still to play. China have 12 points with maximum points from all four wins, while Russia sit a point behind. Brazil and USA are third and fourth respectively with three wins and one loss.
In a thriller in Macau, Serbia came from two sets down, led by the impressive Tijana Boskovic, to take a 3-2 win over the highly fancied Brazilian side. The win was ever more important in that it was the first ever win for Serbia over their South American opponents, who suffered their first loss of the tournament.
Group 1 Standings
There was an impressive win for USA over Germany in Long Beach with a 3-1 scoreline as Krista Lowe was on form to power score her way to leading scorer in her match.
The defensive performance of the day went to Turkey, who put on a masterclass in their keenly contested 3-2 win over Japan, also in Long Beach. Polen Uslupehlivan was decisive in both attack and defence as they put in an impressive display.
Meanwhile, Italy and Thailand will play again later in the weekend after their match was abandoned after a power failure midway through their match in Bari. Once the schedule has been revised, the new time of the match will be announced.
Group 2 Semifinals
Group 3 Semifinals
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
30 - Tijana Boskovic of Serbia v Brazil on June 17
Top Scoring Performances
31 - Angela Leyva of Peru v Kazakhstan on June 3
31 – Berenika Tomsia of Poland v Argentina on June 10
30 - Tijana Boskovic of Serbia v Brazil on June 17
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
28 - Polen Uslupehlivan of Turkey v Japan on June 17
26 – Karina Ocasio of Puerto Rico v Argentina on June 11
26 – Heidy Rodriguez Lopez of Cuba v Colombia on June 5
26 - Emiliya Nikolova of Bulgaria v Dominican Republic on June 3
26 – Lonneke Slöetjes of the Netherlands v Belgium on June 12
26 – Angela Leyva of Peru v Croatia on June 12
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 – Martyna Grajber of Poland v Argentina on June 10
5 – Yael Castiglione of Argentina v Dominican Republic on June 4
5 – Sloane Shae of Australia v Mexico on June 12
5 - Brankica Mihajlovic of Serbia b Brazil on June 17
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
4 - Kelsey Robinson of USA v Germany on June 17
4 - Saori Sakoda of Japan v Turkey on June 17
Top Team Serving Performances
15 - USA v Germany on June 17
13 – Croatia v Cuba on June 3
12 – Kazakhstan v Algeria on June 4
12 – Mexico v Australia on June 12
11 - Japan v Turkey on June 17
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 - Serbia v Brazil on June 17
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
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 - Irina Fetisova of Russia v Netherlands on June 17
6 - Polen Uslupehlivan of Turkey v Japan on June 17
6 - Nursevil Aydinlar of Turkey v Japan on June 17
6 - Ozge Nur Yurtdagulen of Turkey v Japan on June 17
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
28 - Turkey v Japan on June 17
19 – Cuba v Peru on June 11
19 – Italy v Serbia on June 10
18 – Poland v Czech Republic on June 4
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
Highest Scoring Sets
31-29 - Brazil v Serbia on June 17
31-29 – Serbia v Italy on June 10
31-29 – Japan v Serbia on June 9
30-28 – Puerto Rico v Argentina on June 11
30-28 – Canada v Poland on June 3
29-27 – United States v Thailand on June 11
29-27 – Mexico v Australia on June 12
Highest Scoring Matches
223 - Serbia v Brazil 3-2 (25-16, 31-29, 19-25, 19-25, 18-16) on June 17
219 – Bulgaria v Canada 3-2 (25-22, 22-25, 21-25, 28-26, 15-10) on June 12
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
209 - Turkey v Japan 3-2 (21-25, 25-16, 23-25, 25-21,15-13) on June 17
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
202 – Bulgaria v Dominican Republic 3-2 (23-25, 25-20, 25-18, 17-25) on June 3