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Volleyball 07/10/2018

Germany shock Brazil in nail-biting five-setter, Dominican Republic close to upsetting Japan

Triumphant Germans upon scoring the winning point against Brazil

Lausanne, Switzerland, October 7, 2018 – Germany stunned Brazil in a nail-biting five-setter, the most interesting match on day 1 of the second round at the FIVB Volleyball Women’s World Championship in Japan. In the other hard-fought five-setter on Sunday, Japan overcame a gusty Dominican Republic to please the home crowd with another win.

In a thrilling Pool E encounter, Germany did not give up even after trailing their world-class opponents by two sets, and emerged victorious after extending both the third set and the tie-breaker into overtime. While capitalizing on the many unforced errors of Brazil, Germany also relied on a 36-point contribution from Louisa Lippmann, which included four aces. With Russia’s Nataliya Goncharova taking the day off due to injury and Polina Rahimova coming in as a substitution for Azerbaijan, Lippmann rocketed up to the top of the World Championship best scorers ranking with a tournament total of 129 points. Tandara Caixeta led the scorers on the other side of the net with 29 points to her name.

This result led to a 4-2 win-loss record for each of the two sides, with Brazil currently ranking fourth in the pool on 13 points, followed by Germany in fifth place on 11. Brazil had not lost to a German team at the World Championships since a GDR squad last beat them at the 1970 edition more than 48 years ago. Coach Felix Kozlowski’s side put a stop to the South American powerhouse’s 11-game winning streak against Germany at the World Championships.

The Dominican Republic were close to a similar feat when they faced hosts Japan in the late game in Nagoya. About eight thousand spectators saw the home favourites waste a two-set lead to the fighting Dominicans before finally closing the match in their favour with the tie-breaker. With some solid blocking efforts on both sides of the net, it was a tough battle on the court, resulting in two of the sets, the second and the fourth, dramatically extending into overtime. Sarina Koga hammered out 23 points for Japan, while Bethania De La Cruz was Dominican Republic’s most prolific player with 21. Now on a 5-1 record, Japan hold on to the third place in the pool standings, while the Caribbean team are sixth on 3-3.

The remaining matches on Sunday’s programme produced expected results with the favourites living up to their status and adding three points to their records.

Dominicans receive well-deserved applause from the home fans after their five-setter against Japan

Other Sunday highlights:

• Both Serbia and the Netherlands maintained their unbeaten streaks since the start of the tournament, adding their sixth consecutive victories, in straight-setters against Mexico and Puerto Rico. Serbia on 18 points and the Netherlands on 17 are the current table leaders in Pool E.

• Serbia have yet to lose a set at Japan 2018. They have won all 18 sets they have played at the 2018 World Championship so far.

• All four of Sunday’s matches in Pool F finished in straight sets, with Russia, USA, Italy and China shutting out Turkey, Bulgaria, Azerbaijan and Thailand, respectively.

• Italy (18 points) and USA (16 points) are the two undefeated teams in the pool. On 5-1 and 15 points each, China and Russia follow in third and fourth in the standings.

• Irina Fetisova scored as many as six of Russia’s 11 kill blocks in the match against Turkey and climbed to the top of the best blockers chart at Japan 2018 with an average of 1.05 stuffs per set.

• Fetisova shares the honours with Anna Danesi, who was responsible for “only” two of Italy’s 12 stuffs against Azerbaijan on Sunday, while her teammate Cristina Chirichella shone with five. Miryam Fatime Sylla was the best scorer of the match with 17 points, hanging on to her leading position in the tournament’s best spikers ranking on a 60.58% success rate in attack.