Match 5: Cameroon vs. Brasil

Brazil crush Cameroonians

Kobe, Japan, November 5, 2006 -- Brazil demolished Cameroon in three sets in their final Pool C match at the World Championships in Kobe on Sunday.

The 25-13, 25-14, 25-8 victory meant that Brazil finished the first round unbeaten in five games.

Cameroon, meanwhile, provided often brave and spectacular resistance but ended their first experience of a major international volleyball tournament with an 0-5 record.

Brazil moved out to an 8-2 lead at the first technical timeout, although Cameroon weren't playing particularly badly; it's just that technically they were no match for the Brazilians.

Brazil rested their captain Fafao and Jaqueline Carvalho but still had plenty of firepower to handle the Cameroonians, with Paula Pequeno, Renata Colombo and Marianne Steinbrecher picking up the points.

Cameroon tried to get into the game and when Rebecca Rose Ngo Nkot got her spikes in, it immediately lifted the team.

But when Cameroon's top scorer found the net rather than the court, it just handed the initiative back to Brazil.

Cameroon's starting setter Juliette Asta Gamkoua also struggled and she was soon replaced by captain Rose Beleng a Ngon, who gave the team more stability.

A couple of Ngo Nkot spikes made the score slightly more respectable, but Brazil eased effortlessly to setpoint, which was converted by Pequeno.

After falling behind 4-1 early in the second set, the Cameroonians staged a mini rally, pulling back to 5-6, but then the Brazilians eased away again to 16-6 at the second TTO and then pulled away to 25-14.

Brazil's efficient bombardment continued into the third set with Steinbrecher, Colombo and Pequeno continuing their assault.

Ngo Nkot came up with occasional bombs but on other occasions was erratic.

Match 4: Cameroon vs. Kazakhstan

Kazakhstan eases past Cameroon

  Kobe, Japan, November 4, 2006 -- Kazakhstan earned their first win at the World Championships as they faced off against Cameroon, another side with an 0-3 record in Pool C.

The Kazaks encountered little resistance as they polished off their African opponents 25-20, 25-13, 25-12.

The first set was hardly a classic with both teams failing to get to grips with their game.

Cameroon coach Peter Nonnenbroich replaced setter Juliette Asta Gamkoua with Kazakhstan leading 12-9 and this improved his team's organization, but Kazakhstan also started to play better volleyball and moved out to an 18-11 lead.

Kazakhstan earned setpoint when Cameroon's Marguerite Messina Ondoua placed a spike wide, and their captain, Yelena Pavlova, sealed the set with a clever little push over the net.

Things didn't get much better for Cameroon in the second set.

Nonnenbroich called a timeout at 0-4 as his players struggled to find any kind of rhythm to pressure the Kazaks.

Kazakhstan may have been slow on the uptake, but they didn't have to do much to score.

Major spikes were generally absent, with many points being won on defensive errors.

Cameroon setter Asta Gamouka had problems with consistency and the Cameroonians also struggled defensively.

The defensive problems were highlighted when they lost the second set on a weak serve by Kazakhstan's Olga Grushko that they were unable to return.

Cameroon's woes continued into the third set as errors made life easy for Kazakhstan, who led 8-2 at the first technical timeout.

Cameroon had a brief glimmer of hope as Rebecca Rose Ngo Nkot served two aces in a row, but the Kazaks stretched their lead again and were 16-8 ahead at the second TTO.

Match 3: Kenya vs. USA

Cameroon no match for the Americans

  Kobe, Japan, November 3, 2006 -- As expected, the United States defeated Cameroon in three sets in their third match of Pool C, but the Cameroonians certainly weren't overawed by the Americans' power.

The Americans won 25-17, 25-18, 25-11 and went 3-0 in the tournament. Cameroon fell to 0-3 in the Pool C standings.

The win may not have stretched the Americans too much, but the Cameroonians played with power, dignity and great enthusiasm.

They were also cheered on by a partisan crowd who shared the sheer joie de vivre to be found in their play.

While the Americans were all business, the Cameroon players were smiling and constantly shouting encouragement to each other.

Cameroon still played some huge points, inspired by the irrepressible Rebecca Rose Ngo Nkot, whose massive serves and spikes had the crowd fascinated.

She was backed up by Marie-Therese Ombassa Sombang, Ruth Diboue and Juliette Ahone Gamkoua.

The Americans were five points ahead at the first technical timeout and six ahead at the second. Tayyiba Haneef again played huge with strong support from Heather Bown, Jennifer Joines and Nancy Metcalf and led by captain Robyn Ah Mow-Santos.

A huge block by Danielle Scott, Therese Crawford and Metcalf sealed the first set.

The second set was closer, although the Cameroonians were still playing catchup.

But at the second TTO, there were only two points in it.

The Americans pulled away from 20-16 to 24-18 when another great block from Crawford, Joines and Metcalf ended the set.

In the third set, Cameroon actually went ahead, playing as much on enthusiasm as skill, but they were two points up at 7-5.

However, 9-9 was the turning point and the African team could only manage two more points as they went off the rails.

Match 2: Cameroon vs. Puerto Rico

Puerto Rico overcome Cameroon 3-0

Kobe, Japan, November 1, 2006 -- Puerto Rico overcame a game Cameroon in their second match in Pool C 3-0 on Wednesday.

While Cameroon showed plenty of determination, they could not make up for the more experienced Puerto Ricans, who ran out winners by a score of 25-17, 25-23, 25-20.

Cameroon are nothing if not inconsistent. Their scoring seems to go in waves and with a little luck -- or a bigger wave -- they could have taken a set, their coach's stated ambition for this tournament.

They kept it close early on but after drawing to 16-16 in the first set, they couldn't find that little bit extra to finish off the Puerto Ricans.

Instead, it was Puerto Rico who went ahead after Cameroon's Marguerite Messina Ondoua planted a spike into the net.

After that, Cameroon's big-hitter, Rebecca Rose Ngo Nkot, also showed her wayward side, hitting one shot wide and then also finding the net as Puerto Rico moved into a commanding 23-17 lead from which they easily took the set.

The second set was closer, but the Cameroonians were always playing catchup.

Neither side dominated the opening exchanges of the second set and both committed errors, but as the set progressed, Puerto Rico were the first to find their form and from 10-10 they pulled away quickly, creating a six-point lead at 16-10.

As Cameroon's big guns failed to fire, the Puerto Ricans also put on a brilliant display of blocking and with the influence of Ngo Nkot and Messina Ondoua lessened, Puerto Rico dominated the mid-stages.

Ngo Nkot responded with some clever tactical play, faking spikes and then pushing the ball gently over the net, but Puerto Rico captain Aurea Cruz steered her team to victory.

Match 1: Cameroon vs. Netherlands

Dutch cruise past Cameroon in opener

  Kobe, Japan, October 31, 2006 -- The Netherlands cruised past Cameroon 3-0 in their opening match of Pool C at the World Championships.

Despite some valiant defiance from the African team, the Dutch masters ran out 25-16, 25-17, 25-18 winners.

Cameroon coach Peter Nonnenbroich had said his team would be happy to win a set in the tournament, but his players acquitted themselves well and refused to be overwhelmed by one of the tournament favorites.

Cameroon showed they were there to fight from the start. They were only three points behind at the first technical timeout and four points back at the second.

Rebecca Rose Ngo Nkot's spikes were not only huge, they were very accurate. As "backup," Marguerite Messina Ondoua also scored with some heavy hits.

In defense, Cameroon libero Patricia Ndolo Ngombi was everywhere and dealt with the Dutch big hitters with amazing agility and spirit. She also showed great skill in setting up the big guns for their spikes.

In the end, the Dutch pulled away after the second technical timeout of the first set despite some brave defense from Ndolo Ngombi.

In the second set, the Cameroonians again showed some spectacular plays with Ngo Nkot at the center of their best stuff, spiking huge and serving very strongly.

But the Dutch responded with some clinical play and strong spiking, with Manon Flier overwhelming at times, both at the net and with her serve.

Early on, the Cameroonians were making a game of it, pulling to within three points at 11-8, but as the match wore on, some of their inexperience showed, particularly on serving.

In the third set, the Dutch jumped out to a 5-1 lead before Cameroon coach Peter Nonnenbroich called a timeout, which allowed his team to gather themselves and make another fightback.

But a long serve by Messina Ondoua at 12-10 gave the momentum back to the Dutch, although the Cameroonians were again just two points back at 17-15.

Excellent blocking by Caroline Wensink and Chaine Staelens set up matchpoint, but not before Messina Ondoua had delivered another punishing spike.