CWCH: Coaching legends win to open
The favourites of Women’s Club World Championships successfully inaugurated the tournament organised in Zurich, Switzerland. Unilever Volei Rio De Janeiro, guided by Bernardo Rezende, beat the champion of North America Iowa Ice (USA). Second match of the opening day was claimed by Guangdong Evergrande with Lang Ping on the bench and others volleyball stars on the court. The Chinese team overcame Kenya Prisons in straight sets. Additionally, the bunch of participants completes Vakifbank Istanbul and Volero Zurich (hosts).
Unilever Volei – Iowa Ice 3:0 (25-14, 25-16, 25-22)
Unilever: Fofao, Gabi 10, Carol 8, Pavan 11, Regis 6, Juciely 12, Fabi (L) and Roberta, Natasha 3, Bruna 2, Mihajlovic 6
Iowa: Manns 1, Jenson 6, Smith 4, Schipper 8, Landi 4, Brimmage 8, Jensen (L)
The favourites from Brazil quickly took command of the match. The US-players did their best to stop the powerful Brazilian spikers, but could not prevent Bernardinho’s squad to move the scoreboard forward. A quick combination in the middle with 43-year old setter Fofão and middle blocker Juciely finished the first set 25-14 in Unilever’s favour. 19-year young Gabi contributed five winners for the South American team.
The story of the match did not change in the second set. Iowa captain Megan Schipper and Brittney Brimmage sent some missiles trough the Brazilian defence and libero Devon Jensen did her best to stop the Brazilian offense. However, Unilever kept the upper hand with solid net play and strong serves. Serbian national team player Brankica Mihajlovic brought up set point at 24-16, before an Iowa error offered the Brazilians a well-deserved 2-0 set lead.
Iowa Ice’s coach Janelle Hester apparently found the right words at changeover, putting her team back on track. In the middle of the third set, Iowa had reduced the gap to one point (15-16). Nevertheless, it was not good enough. Unilever kept calm with top scorer Juciely leading the Brazilian team to a hard-fought 25-22.
Team Stats:
ActionSpike pointsSpike %BlockServeReceptionErrorsUnilever4758%8365%27Iowa2331%6250%28
Team Leaders:
ActionPointsSpike PointsSpike %Spike errorsBlockServeErrorsSarah Pavan11847%4309Megan Schipper8838%6006
Guangdong Evergrande – Kenya Prisons 3:0 (25-14, 25-11, 25-13)
Evergrande: Shen 3, Hodge 10, Xu 7, Zhu 14, Rouqi 12, Yang 8, Zhang (L) and Faucette 2, N. Wang, Guiggi 1
Click Here: cheap INTERNATIONAL jerseyPrisons: Khisa, Moim 8, Kibor 1, Makuto 12, Mairimu 1, Mwombe 1, Wanayama (L) and Khadambi 6, Wanjala 1, Jepkemboi 3
The Asians jumped out for a 16-9 lead in the middle of the first set. However, Lang Ping’s players experienced more difficulties as expected to stop the powerful Kenyan hitters at the start of the match. Especially Mercy Moim and Everlyne Makuto repeatedly found gaps in Evergrande’s defence. “Many of my players just came back from national teams activities, we’ll need time to find our rhythm”, said coach Lang Ping before the match. Nevertheless, the Asians were the better team. US-national team player Megan Hodge secured her squad a 25-14 set win with two remarkable hammers through the African defence.
Kenya Prisons still struggled with passing early in the second set. Coach David Mutsami called his ladies off court at 0-5, but it visibly did not help. At the second technical break, the Chinese already led 16-6. The sharp Asian serves caused major problems for a regular build-up on Kenya’s side, giving setter Jane Wairimu a hard time. The best outside hitter from 2013 FIVB World Grand Prix, Ting Zhu, led her team to an undisputed 25-11 set win.
The story of the match did not change in the third and last set. The Kenyan did their utmost but could not prevent the favourites from China to pull through. After one hour, Mercy Moim hammered long to offer Guangdong Evergrande the third set 25-13 and the match 3:0.
Team Stats:
ActionSpike pointsSpike %BlockServeReceptionErrorsEvergrande6370%6758%10Prisons2940%2235%24
Team Leaders:
ActionPointsSpike PointsSpike %Spike errorsBlockServeErrorsTing Zhu141254%2025Everlyne Makuto121142%8018