Az is sokat számít, hogy az amik és az olaszok tudták ezen a VB-n azt a csapatukat kiállítani, ami valóban a legjobb. Ha a brazilok a komolyabb garnitúrát hozzák, nem hiszem, hogy ez a döntő jött volna össze. Az oroszokon is sokat lendített volna Szokolova (Saskova)
Az USA már a döntőbe jutott, miután 3-2-re elpáholták a szbornaját.
1st set: USA started the match extremely nervous. The US squad, in the semifinal of a World Championship for the first time since 1990, made many unforced errors and had big difficulties to block the Russian power attacks of Ekaterina Gamova, Evguenia Artamonova and Elizaveta Tichtchenko. After the US players found its rythm, they took over the lead. At the end of the set, it was Russia that made the big points. Thanks to two aces of Gamova, Russia came in front by three points and clinched the set with 25-21.
2nd set: USA started the second set better and immediately took the lead. Although Russia tried to close the gap by powerfull jump serves, the US team stayed in front some points. Again Gamova brought her team back in business, buut the US lead was big enough to clinch the set with 25-23 thanks to an attack of Logan Tom.
3rd set: USA was in charge in the beginning of the third set. Russia had problems with the playing style of the US team. The US quick attacks of Daniella Scott and Heather Bowm brought Russia in big troubles. Furthermore, libero Stacy Sykora defended almost all Russian spikes. Some small US mistake brought Russia back in the set at 15-15. A jump serve of Tom and a block of Scott put USA back in front (22-17). USA never gave this lead away anymore (25-20).
4th set: Russia took an early lead in the fourth set and took benefit of some US mistakes. When USA almost caught the Russians, the European Champion defended some US attacks and was able to make a gap of six points (17-11). Although USA came close, Russia levelled the match winning the set with 25-21.
5th set: USA started the fifth set fantastically. Thanks to some blocks of Prikeba Phipps, USA was leading four points and cruised to the victory (15-8).
US Logan Tom and Russian Ekaterina Gamova both were the best scorers with 21 points.
Azért azt is hozzá kell tenni, hogy Mello és Togut személyében már világklasszis támadóik is vannak az olaszoknak, korábban ez nem volt jellemző. Másrészt azt még megértem, hogy nála nem kezdő Mau, de hogy a cserepadra se férjen fel, és helyette egy A2-es irányítót vigyen ki...
Felháborító. Le Bonittával!
Azért nem semmi lesz az orosz-amerikai elődöntő! Itt lehetetlen megtippelni, hogy ki fog nyerni.
Az olaszoknak nem jósolok könnyű meccset mert kína egyértelműen esélyesebb -papíron- náluk.
Az USA és Kína a másik két továbbjutó. A kubaiak 10 évig tartó egyeduralmának ezzel vége, bár ezzel a fiatal csapattal 2 év múlva lehet, hogy megint nagyot robbantanak. (Bár alighanem ott is hiányozni fognak a disszidáló Agueróék.) Az amerikaiak viszont sajnálhatják, hogy Keba Phippset ilyen hosszú ideig mellőzték, ha jól tudom a 88-as olimpián játszott utoljára világversenyen (de lehet, hogy a 90-es vb-n).
Igen szerencséjük volt, mert mint harmadik helyezettet a két másik elsőhöz húzhatták volna, de ők a második helyezettet kapták, ráadásul a könnyebb ágat is. Kína és az USA is nagyon nehéz ügy lett volna. Most már nem tudom mi a további menet. A Kína vs Brazília győztese következik, de szerintem megint vágott szeműek lesznek az ellenfelek!
Russia and Bulgaria combine some of the best volleyball skills in Europe so when these two teams face each other across the net in the first quarterfinal of the 2002 Women’s World Championship, action is guaranteed. Russia has been European Champion on the last three occasions, while Bulgaria claimed a bronze medal during the 2001 European Championship in Varna, Bulgaria. On that occasion, Russia defeated Bulgaria in the preliminary round and went on to win over Italy in the final. Bulgaria defeated Ukraine in the match for the third position.
Russia is the clear favorite in this match. The 2002 Grand Prix winner only lost against USA in the first round and booked two impressive victories in the second round over Italy and Cuba. Russian players also lead in four of the individual rankings. Ekaterina Gamova is best scorer, blocker and server going into the quarterfinals. Elizaveta Tichtchenko is leading the best attackers ranking. Captain Evguenia Artamonova is also enjoying a successful series, even though she was slightly injured in the first round and was unable to play for two days.
But will the Russian blockers be able to stop Bulgarian Antonia Zetova? The 29-year- old spiker is in great form and it was largely due to her efforts that Bulgaria pulled off a key victory over Korea in the second round.
Bulgaria is a team of great talent and one that is always capable of pulling off a surprise result.
USA and Cuba should join together to create one of the most spectacular quarterfinal matches of the 2002 Women’s World Championship. Both teams have met each other many times and know each other’s playing styles. Indeed USA pulled off an important victory against Cuba in 2001 at the Norceca Continental Championship and went on to win the tournament. In the same year, USA also won the FIVB World Grand Prix title.
So far the American lineup has had a dream tournament and has sailed through the thirst two rounds as the only undefeated team. They are fielding a mix of experienced players and young talent. Prikeba Phipps, who is in her early 30’s, is a stable factor in the team, while younger players like Logan Tom and Heather Bown are proving an asset to the side. Libero Stacy Sykora, a player who rarely makes a mistake is also valuable. She was out for several matches in the first round after a knock on the head, but now seems back in form.
Three times World and Olympic Champion Cuba are in a self-confessed state of change as a new generation of players step into the imposing shoes of some of their veterans now retiring. The Cubans started the World Championship with a loss against Korea but they bounced back to deliver some great volleyball and must be considered a medal contender.
Yumilka Ruiz, the co-leader of the best scorers ranking, Zoila Barros and Marta Sanchez are the three players coach Filipe Calderon can count on, while Regla Torres will also be in a good shape in the quarterfinal.
ITA v KOR. These two teams go into their quarterfinal match on very equal footing and whoever advances to the semifinal will be a worthy winner as both teams have, until now, perhaps even exceeded pre-tournament expectations. The Italian team was undefeated in the first round and indeed did not drop a set. Opponents were a little more relentless in the second round. Italy lost against Russia and Cuba and made it to the quarterfinal as the second best, third-ranked team.
Korea goes to the quarterfinals after victories over two of the main favorites, Cuba and China. They play a quick attacking game coupled with a solid defense that could cause Italy some problems. Italy has to win to improve their 1998 ranking when they finished the World Championship in fifth. Korea took the fourth place in the 1994 World Championship in Brazil.
The battle between these two strong teams will be whether Italy’s power attacks can break through the Korean defense.
China and Brazil meet for the second time in the 2002 Women’s World Championship. China defeated the South American Champion 3-1 in the preliminary pool clash in Leipzig. The match should nevertheless be a tight one when the two sides face each other in the quarterfinals. The young Brazilian team has been constantly improving during the tournament and seems to have found true joy on the court while China has had a few problems in recent matches, losing against Greece in the first round and against Korea in the second. Despite these defeats is China still one of the major candidates for the World Title. All 12 players of coach Zhonghe Chen are capable of competing at the highest level, but because he likes to rotate his players often they don’t tend to play as many sets as those of the other top teams. China’s Ruirui Zhao, Yanan Liu and setter Kun Feng are all world-class athletes and will certainly not make it easy for Brazil.
Meanwhile, the youthful Brazil side is enjoying increasing confidence and is definitely a team for the future. Despite the loss against China in the first round and against USA in the second, the South American formation is capable of pulling off a victory against China. Brazil can play without any pressure, because losing against China will be no shame and if Paula Pequeno, Welissa Gonzalez and Luciana Nascimento can score as they did in the last matches, Brazil can be very dangerous.
Azért mert az oroszok az USA mögött végeztek mint második és a kubaiak is csak második helyen mentek tovább.
Talán ha taktikáznak az olaszok az utolsó csoportmeccsen és kikapnak akkor most könnyebb lenne a helyzetük. De mondom így is nyertek 3 szettet és ha nyernek 3:0 akkor 6:6 lesz a szettarányuk, és azzal benntlesznek a nyolcba.
Szerintem lesz még mód ezen a vb-n a revansra! Bár ahoz 3:0 ra kell verni a görögöket holnap.
Ma iszonyú gyenge volt az olaszok nyitásfogadása, és Togut sem remekelt.
Vajon megint ők lesznek a világbajnokok? Remélem, azért valaki megálljt parancsol nekik. Talán éppen Keba Phipps, ha már Maurizia nem kapta meg ezt a sanszot... :(
