Rome, Italy, September 23, 2014 - Dominican Republic edged Germany 3-2 (22-25, 25-21, 25-21, 24-26, 16-14) on the opening day of the FIVB Volleyball Women's World Championship Italy 2014 Pool A being held in Rome.
Bethania De La Cruz sparked Dominican Republic with a match-high 23 points and Elizabeth Martinez totaled 14 points off the bench. Germany had five players in double-figure scoring including Margareta Kozuch with team-high 16 points followed by Maren Brinker with 14 points.
Key Facts
* Dominican Republic tallied 17 blocks to offset Germany's 5-1 ace advantage
* Dominican Republic used a 4-0 run to overcome a 9-6 deficit in the fifth set
* Germany stayed in the match by winning the fourth after trailing 19-15
* Dominican Republic have played at the World Championship on six occasion, including the last four tournaments dating back to 1998. Germany’s best result at a World Championship was a fourth place as East Germany in 1974, a result the East Germans matched 12 years later in 1986.
In the opening set, Germany won by 25-20. At the start of the match there was the home team to the service with Dharlenis Marte. The set was very close and both teams played point for point. The first technical time out arrived by the score of 8-6 for Germany. At the mid set Germany tried to break away going 11:7. On the score 13:8 for Germany, the coach of Dominican Republic called the first time out. The comeback of the home team didn’t arrive and Germany dominated the set. When arrived the second technical time out Germany managed 16:10. At the score 17:12 for Germany went in on court Brayelin Martinez for Gina Mambru. Coach Guidetti called the his first time out by the score 18-15 ahead. At the end of the set there was the comeback of the home team going up 17-18 under. Kwiek’s team got the draw by the score of 20:20. Teams played point for point. On the score 22-21 ahead, Germany went in on the court the Margareta Kozuch for Mareen Apitz and Jennifer Geerties for Maren Brinker. On the score 23-22 under, coach Kwiek called the his second time out. With a great spike of Louisa Lippmann, Germany won the first set. A wonderful performance of the German captain Kozuch with 7 points in attacks.
At the start of the second set, the home team tried to break away going up 4-1. At the first technical time out the score was 8-4 for Dominican Republic. When the score was 10-6 for Dominican Republic there was a great spike of the Prisilla Rivera. At the mid set went in on the court Martinez for Mambru. At the score 14-9 for the home team, Kozuch for Stefanie Karg. Dominican Republic dominated the set going up 16-11. At the score 17:11 Geerties for Brinker. The set didn’t continue as the first, the home team managed the set and went up 21-13. Coach Guidetti called the opcional time out because didn’t like the game of his team. Germany leveled points going up 24-21 under, but the home team won the set 25-21.
The third set began as the second and the home team went up 3-0. Dominican Republic built an important margin going up 7-4. Germany leveled the gap with a good game and it got the draw by the score of 7-7. The bad reception of the home team allowed the host team to build an important margin of advantage, so coach Kwiek called the time by the score 10-7 under. Coach Guidetti took a yellow card by the score 12-12. Also in the previous sets, the percentage reception’s Dominican Republic was very low, but despite this the home team returned at the manage of the set going up 16:14. At the score 17-14 Apitz for the captain Kozuch and Lippman for Weiss. Coach Guidetti called the second time out by the score 19-15. Teams played point for point, but Germany conquered the set winning 26-24, thanks to a Dominican Republic error on spike.
At the start,the fourth set was very close, teams played point to point, there wasn’t a team that dominated the set. Dominican team tried to break away going up 9-6. Coach Guidetti called the first time out by the score of 10-6. German wasn’t able to stop opposing attacks. A display of good aggressive attacks allowed Germany to level the gap going up 15-12. The first technical time out arrived by the score of 16-13. A wonderful ace of Apitz by the score 17-13 over Dominican team. Coach Kwiek called the first technical time out by the score of 23-20, because Germany leveled the gap. Dominican coach called the second technical time out by the score of 23-22. Germany eased past the home team going up 24-23 ahead. The bad Dominican reception allowed Germany to win a great set, where it fought until the end.
At the end of fourth set seemed a German triumph. At change court Germany won 8-5. Dominican got the draw by the score of 9-9. It was a fight point to point, but at the end Dominican Republic won 15-13 a stunning match.