2010 Women’s World Championship - Africa Pool B

B 2 20 - 24 May 2009 Mozambique Maputo

Day 5 Mauritius and South Africa secured the two slots the third round Maputo, Mozambique, May 24, 2009- After Mauritius Women’s volleyball team already cut the first qualification ticket earlier on Saturday, South Africa secure the second ticket to the third round of the 2010 Women’s World Championship following their victory over the host team Mozambique in the fifth and final day of the 2010 Women’s World Championship second round Africa pool B tournament held her at Maxaquene Maputo hall in the capital of Mozambique on Sunday. Mauritius continued their way as the only undefeated team as they win their fourth match in a row over Zimbabwe. In a match qualifying the winner to the third round, South Africa clinched a critical victory over Mozambique 3-0 (25-15, 28-26, 25-17) in 78 minutes. The host team struggled specially in the second set, which was the most exciting to pick the qualification ticket, but the south African were more concentrating and keen to win. The victory improved South Africa win- loss ratio to 3-1 to finish the tournament at the second position with 7 points that moved them to the third round Africa Pool D in Algeria July 15-17. Mozambique dropped to 2-2 to finish third with 6 points. Mauritius continued their winning streak as they cruised past the winless Zimbabwe team 3-0 (25-9, 25-18, 25-7) in 52 minutes. Mauritius record improved to 4-0 to finish at the top of the pool with 8 points, while Zimbabwe dropped 0-4 to finish at the bottom of the pool.

Day 4 South Africa regains the victory rhythm towards a third round ticket Maputo, Mozambique, May 23, 2009- Mauritius Women’s volleyball team secure one of the two third round slots in the 2010 World Championship following their respectable victory over the host Mozambique in the fourth day of the 2010 Women’s World Championship second round Africa pool B tournament held her at Maxaquene Maputo hall in the capital of Mozambique on Saturday. Swaziland set their first victory over the winless Zimbabwe but they lose all their hopes to cut a third round ticket. The second slot to the third round determined from this tournament will be settled in the competition fifth and final day when South Africa plays the host Mozambique as the winner will gain the second ticket to Africa Pool D that will be held in Algeria 15-17 July 2009. The giants of Mauritius came from their rest day fresher to win as they played their best to defeat the organizers Mozambique 3-1 (25-16, 24-26, 25-22, 18-25) in the tournament’s most exciting match that lasts 97 minutes. After Mauritius won the first set, the host team rebounded back aided by the support of their spectators to win the second set. Mauritius team that was more physically fit succeeded to win two successive sets to win the match that gave them the qualification ticket to the third round even if they lost their final match against Zimbabwe on Sunday. Mauritius becomes the only undefeated team as they improved their win- loss ratio to 3-0 in three matches to lead the 5 nation tournament with 6 points, while Mozambique dropped to 2-1 come third by the point ratio after South Africa who were in their rest day. The more motivated Swaziland team took over Zimbabwe in straight sets 25-15, 25-17, 25-20 in 72 minutes. Swaziland players overwhelmed the match through their better net action and more organized reception that made the difference finally in the match. Swaziland who finished their matches improved their win- loss ratio to 1-3 to raise their points to 5 at the fourth position but they missed the chance of qualification to the third round, while Zimbabwe dropped to 0-3 to come at the bottom of the pool The round robin competition will be finalized on Sunday as the competition hall will show the most important qualification match between Mozambique and South Africa where the winner will get the second slot of this tournament in the third round while Mauritius meets Zimbabwe in a match that didn’t affect the qualification of the first.

Day 3 South Africa regains the victory rhythm towards a third round ticket Maputo, Mozambique, May 22, 2009- South Africa Women’s volleyball team regain the victory rhythm after their defeat against Mauritius in the second day when they take over Swaziland in straight sets in the third day of the 2010 Women’s World Championship second round Africa pool B tournament held her at Maxaquene Maputo hall in the capital of Mozambique on Friday. South Africa came one more step towards securing one of the two tickets of this tournament qualifying to the third round. The host team Mozambique set their second victory in two matches of the 5 nation round robin competition when they defeated Zimbabwe to keep their hopes of having one of the third round tickets. After a very competitive first set South Africa controlled their match against Swaziland and achieved a 3-0 (26-24, 25-16, 25-12) victory in 67 minutes. Swaziland players played well in the first set and were near to win the set but South Africa improved their disturbed reception and backline defense to win the set narrowly. South Africa passed then more easily in the second and third sets to set their competition second victory. This victory improved the South African win- loss ratio to 2-1 to lead the pool with 5 points in three matches ahead of the undefeated Mauritius team who gained 4 points in 2 matches and had a rest day on Friday. Swaziland dropped to 0-3 to be ranked fourth in the 5 nation round robin competition. Mozambique aided by the local spectators continued their winning rhythm and set the second victory in a row over the winless Zimbabwe 3-0 (25-15, 25-10, 25-21) in 70 minutes. The winners had many successful combinations by the net using the different attackers in the front and back rows and didn’t allow their opponent to enter the match except in the last part of the third set. Mozambique improved their record to 2-0 in two matches, while Zimbabwe dropped to 0-2. The competition fourth day will feature two matches as the host Mozambique tries to seek the third victory over the strong Mauritius team, while Zimbabwe meets Swaziland as both teams still seeking for the first victory on Saturday

Day 2 Mauritius cruises past South Africa in an early final Maputo, Mozambique, May 21, 2009- the surprising Mauritius Women volleyball team continues their winning rhythm after they pull off a respectable victory over their big contenders South Africa in the second day of the 2010 Women’s World Championship second round Africa pool B tournament held her at Maxaquene Maputo hall in the capital of Mozambique on Thursday. The match that was called the tournament’s early final put Mauritius in a good position towards securing a third round slot in the prestigious FIVB competition. The host team Mozambique achieved their first victory in their opening match of the 5 nation round robin competition to keep their hopes of cutting one of the two tickets towards the third round African Pool D. The promising Manutius team overcame the sluggish start and rebounded from one set behind to secure a 3-1 (22-25, 25-21, 25-15, 25-21) over their big compatriots South Africa in 109 minutes. Led by their big guns Martine Bistoquet and Tiffany Mursimloo, the strong Mauritius team controlled the net action and penetrated the South African block regularly specially in the third and fourth sets that settled the top of the pool for them. Mauritius improved their win- loss ratio in the competition to 2-0 to lead the pool with 4 points, while South Africa dropped to 1-1 to come at the second position with 3 points. After they had a rest in the opening day the host team of Mozambique cruised past Swaziland 3-0 (25-12, 25-16, 25-11) in 67 minutes. Mozambique’s setter Amelia Cumbi played a great role in the victory with her skillful combinations that deceived the opponent’s block and allowed her team to pass easily towards the straight sets victory. The victory made the hosts record 1-0 to be ranked third with 2 points while Swaziland dropped to 0-2. The competition Third day will feature two matches as South Africa meets Swaziland, while the organizer Mozambique plays Zimbabwe on Friday

Day 1 Favorites South Africa and Mauritius set their first victory Maputo, Mozambique, May 20, 2009- The big competitors to win the African Pool B tournament of the 2010 Women’s World Championship South Africa and Mauritius set their first victory over Zimbabwe and Swaziland in the opening day of the 5 Nation round robin tournament held her at Maxaquene Maputo hall in the capital of Mozambique on Wednesday. The winners lead Africa Pool B in absence of the host country Mozambique who were in a rest day at the opening and will enter the fray on Thursday. South Africa needed 67 minutes to clinch the first victory over Zimbabwe 3-0 (25-15, 25-7, 25-10). The more experienced South African players succeeded to control the net action and didn’t allow the shorter Zimbabwe players to enter the match at any time. South Africa’s win- loss ratio becomes 1-0, while Zimbabwe dropped to 0-1. Mauritius were superior in all volleyball skills enough to cruise past Swaziland 3-0 (25-9, 25-14, 25-5) in 55 minutes. The well prepared Mauritius players used their strong spike service and the better reception to achieve the victory that made their win- loss ratio 1-0 to lead the competition with the point ratio ahead of South Africa while Swaziland dropped to 0-1. The competition second day will feature two matches as Mauritius meets South Africa in what is considered an early final for the tournament, while Swaziland plays the host Mozambique who will start their program on Thursday

The favorites South Africa meets Zimbabwe in the opening day of Maputo, Mozambique, May 19, 2009- The big favorite South African Women’s volleyball team meets the promising team from Zimbabwe in the opening day of Africa Pool B of the 2010 World Championship held here at Maxaquene Maputo hall in the capital of Mozambique till 24 of May. The round robin competition in the second round of the prestigious FIVB event will feature also a second match between Swaziland and Mauritius on Wednesday. The host team Mozambique has the chance to follow up all the competitors while they are in a rest day. The competition that shows two matches per day till 24th of May will qualify the champions and runner up of the five- nation tournament to the third round Africa pool D that will be organized by Algeria next July. The South African team that regularly participated in CAVB competitions will be optimistic to clinch one of the two tickets of the pool to the third round but they will be faced by the organized and well prepared Zimbabwe. Mauritius with their emerging team meets the struggling Swaziland who want to prove their consistency in their second ever participation in the World Championships.