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2007 Women’s World Championship
Day two
USA Defeated Cuba and second
victory for the Samba of Brazil
 Tokyo,
Japan, 3rd November 2007 – The second day of the 2007 Women’s
FIVB Volleyball World Cup featured second victory for the big
teams as Brazil, Italy, Serbia, U.S.A. and Japan have their 2-0
record after two days of competition here in Tokyo and Hamamatsu
on Saturday. The images from Fuji TV were focused on six matches
that gave shape to the new standings.
World Championship bronze medalists Serbia had to work hard for
a 3-1 victory over Thailand in the first game of the second day
of the World Cup at Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium on Saturday.
World No. 9 Serbia came home 25-20, 18-25, 25-17, 26-24 to
improve their win-loss record to 2-0. Thailand, ranked 30th in
the world, dropped to 0-2 but won their first set of the World
Cup. “We thought we were well prepared for this game” said
Serbian Captain Vesna Citakovic “but during the game we did not
make what we’ve scheduled. But we were able to win and that is
what is important.”
European champions Italy won their second straight match beating
wild card Dominican Republic 3-0. Italy's victory, by 25-17,
25-16, 25-17, improved their win-loss record to 2-0, while
dropping the Dominicans to 0-2 after their loss the previous
evening to Japan. “We played well without mistakes” said Italian
Head Coach Massimo Barbolini “only four on serve, two in attack
and none in reception. Against the Dominican Republic that is
very good because this team has a strong serve.”
Japan grew stronger as the match went on to record a 10th
straight victory over Korea. Japan, who had won the past nine
meetings between the two teams since Korea beat them in the
Athens Olympics, had too much power and experience and came
through 25-23, 19-25, 25-22, 25-16. In front of 10,000
boisterous fans, the World Cup hosts improved their win-loss
record to 2-0. Japanese player Miyuki Takahashi told the media
that “the Koreans worked hard so I could not play very well in
the first and second sets. I had trouble with my timing against
the Korean block. In the third set I could play my own game
after the advice of the coach and my teammates.”
In Hamamatsu, the United States shocked Cuba in a five-set
thriller Saturday, overcoming their rivals 20-25, 25-21, 25-18,
20-25, 15-11. The Americans had a disorganized start to the
fifth set, allowing Cuba an early 3-0 lead, but then the Cubans
got sloppy and the U.S. took a 7-5 lead before allowing Cuba
back into the game with a couple of errors of their own. But
consecutive spikes by Kimberly Glass brought the U.S. level at
10-10. The two teams drew level again at 11 but Glass again came
up big and Haneef-Park gave the Americans match point at 14-11
before a great block by Danielle Scott-Arruda ended the match.
Poland played steady volleyball to breeze past an error-plagued
Peru 25-17, 25-17, 25-16. Peru Captain Leyla Chihuan: “We are
trying to do better but we didn't expect great progress with
this team. Our teamwork and team spirit is low; it's not that we
have a problem with the coaches or players, but we're not at a
sufficiently high level to win. But we'll keep trying.”
Brazil had few problems as they dominated Kenya 25-16, 25-7,
25-14 in their second World Cup match. “We tried our best but
Brazil is ranked much higher than us and their Volleyball is on
a different level. Their setter is very good, so I tried to
watch where she was putting the ball and adapt accordingly”
stated Kenyan player Brackcides Khadambi.
The 1st Round matches will continue tomorrow: the third day of
the World Cup will be staged again in Tokyo and Hamamatsu.
Standings
Brazil, Italy, Serbia, U.S.A., Japan 4 points; Cuba, Poland 3;
Korea, Thailand, Dominican Republic, Peru, Kenya 1.
Photo Caption
The Brazilian skillful setter Fofao in action during the match
against Kenya
Kenya Captain Dorcas Ndasaba in struggling action to save the
ball
By Tarek Al-Adwar from Japan
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