Thaissa Menezes scored the most points on the court
Verona, Italy, October 1, 2014 – Brazil secured their first win in the second round of competition beating a fighting Kazakhstan in straight sets (25-22, 25-22, 25-18) at PalaOlimpia on Wednesday.
Key points:
•Brazil defeated Kazakhstan in three sets the two times they played at a World Championship. They also beat Kazakhstan 3-0 in their last meeting at the World Grand Prix in 2013
•Brazil have lost only two of their last 29 World Championship matches, against Russia in 2006 and 2010
•They lost no match against Asian teams in the last four World Championships
•Kazakhstan advanced to the second round of the World Championship for the first time in any Olympic sport
•With this loss Kazakhstan interrupted their World Championship back-to-back victories record (against Mexico and Thailand in straight sets)
Thaisa Menezes was Brazil's best weapon with a total score of 14 points, immediately followed by Jaqueline Pereira with 12 points. On Kazakhstan's side, Radmila Beresneva scored the most point, nine, while Alena Omelchenko and Lyudmila Issayeva scored seven points each.
The first set started balanced, with Kazakhstan neutralising Brazil’s attack and defending well on digs and blocks. The Asian team was able to build up a small gap, powerfully led by captain Korinna Ishimtseva and supported by amazing shots by Lyudmila Issayeva. But a number of errors on their side and Fernanda Rodrigues’ attacks allowed Brazil to reach Kazakhstan towards the end of the set. Rodrigues spiked to close the set 25-22.
Inna Matveyeva, who was the second best scorer on the Kazakhstan side in the first set with four points, had to leave the court in the beginning of the second set due to an injury on her right ankle and sat on the bench the rest of the match. Her team kept fighting with solid blocks. A spectacular ace by Ishimtseva gave Kazakhstan the lead to the first technical time out, but Brazil responded with Sheilla Castro’s and Fabiana Claudino’s powerful attacks from the centre of the court. The teams tied to 20-20, when Brazil called a video check that gave them the advantage 21-20. The Asian team were not consistent enough to keep up their performance and Jaqueline Carvalho’s spike first, and and Sana’s attack error afterwards cost Kazakhstan the set that ended again 25-22.
Brazil dominated the third set, building an eight-point gap relying on Thaisa Menezes, Carvalho, Claudino and Castro in attack. Kazakhstan tried to react with precise spikes by Nassedkina and Omelchenko, while Radmila Beresneva scored two aces in a row to narrow the distance to 20-14. But Brazil did not lose the grip on the game. The two teams traded points towards the end of the set, but the distance was too wide to close and Kazakhstan’s attack error gave Brazil the set 25-18.
Brazil will take on the Netherlands, and Kazakhstan will meet Serbia on Thursday.