What a volleyball show in front of 12,500 thilled fans at Milan's Mediolanum Fourm in Friday's deciding matches of Round III
Milano, Italy, October 10, 2014 – World No. 2 United States and China earned advancement into Saturday’s semifinals without stepping on the court on Friday at the FIVB Volleyball Women's World Championship Italy 2014. The Dominican Republic (straight-set loss versus Brazil) and reigning champions Russia (1-3 defeat against Italy) finish their World Championship campaign on the fifth rank. World No. 1 Brazil and host Italy top their third round pools to avoid a direct duel in Saturday’s semifinals.
Saturday’s semifinals at Mediolanum Forum in Milano will feature Brazil v United States at 17.30 (local time) and Italy v China at 20.45 (local time).
World No. 1 Brazil shut out the Dominican Republic 3-0 (25-19, 25-21, 25-17) to top Pool H in Round III of the FIVB Volleyball Women's World Championships Italy 2014. Joining Brazil in qualifying from Pool H are China, thanks to their five-set victory over the Dominican Republic on Thursday.
The Dominican Republic rank fifth overall at these World Championships - a huge leap from their previous best of 11th in 1998. For the Queens of the Caribbean, it is the reward for a great run over the last three weeks.
Host Italy overpowered reigning champions Russia 3-1 (25-12, 25-17, 12-25, 25-23), sending the 13,000 fans into a frenzy at Mediolanum Forum in Milan. The hosts had already secured the pole position of Pool G after winning the first set and had knocked out the defending champions after winning the second.
With Saturday's semifinal against China in less than 24 hours, Italy coach Marco Bonitta then rested his starting players, giving court time to his subs and allowing Russia to stay in the game for one more set. It was Russia's fifth defeat in 11 matches. Italy have extended their record to 10-1.
The defending champions Russia have bowed out of the FIVB Volleyball Women's World Championship Italy 2014. Their fifth-place finish is their worst since ranking sixth as the Soviet Union in 1986.
Six matches were played during the third phase of the tournament, running from October 8-10 in Milano’s Mediolanum Forum - with two pools of three teams each. The top two teams of each pool – Italy and USA from Pool G, Brazil and China from Pool H – have qualified to the semifinals.
The Finals of the 2014 FIVB Volleyball Women's World Championship will take place on Saturday and Sunday.
Pool G: 1. Italy (2-0, 6 points), 2. USA (1-1, 3 points), 3. Russia (0-2, 0 points)
Pool H: 1. Brazil (2-0, 6 points), 2. China (1-1, 2 points), 3. Dominican Republic (0-2, 1 point)
Semifinals (Saturday):
17.30 Brazil v USA
20.45 Italy v China
Pool G
Italy-Russia / 3-1 /
VIEW
Pool H
Brazil-China / 3-0 /
VIEWChina-Dominican Republic / 3-2 /
VIEWBrazil-Dominican Republic / 3-0 /
VIEW
TOP PERFORMANCES
Top scorer by day
Polina Rahimova- 33 of Azerbaijan v Japan on 23-9-14
Brankica Mihajlovic- 31 of Serbia v Bulgaria on 24-9-14
Polina Rahimova- 32 of Azerbaijan v Puerto Rico on 25-9-14
Lise Van Hecke- 23 of Belgium v Azerbaijan on 27-9-14
Tatiana Kosheleva-31 of Russia v USA on 28-9-14
Bethania De La Cruz De Peña-30 of Dominican Republic v Belgium and
Lise Van Hecke-30 of Belgium v Dominican Republic on 1-10-14
Tatiana Kosheleva-32 of Russia v Turkey on 2-10-14
Bethania De La Cruz De Peña-37 of Dominican Republic v China on 4-10-14
Bethania De La Cruz De Peña-25 of Dominican Republic v Japan and
Vasileva Elitsa-25 of Bulgaria v Netherlands on 5-10-14
Antonella Del Core-15 of Italy v USA and
Thaisa-15 of Brazil v China and
Jaqueline-15 of Brazil v China and
Fe Garay-15 of Brazil v China on 8-10-14
Bethania De La Cruz De Peña-39 of Dominican Republic v China on 9-10-14
Tatiana Kosheleva-15 of Russia v Italy on 10-10-14
Top scoring performances
39- Bethania De La Cruz De Peña of Dominican Republic v China on 9-10-14
37- Bethania De La Cruz De Peña of Dominican Republic v China on 4-10-14
36- Polina Rahimova of Azerbaijan v Croatia on 4-10-14
33- Polina Rahimova of Azerbaijan v Japan on 23-9-14
32- Polina Rahimova of Azerbaijan v Puerto Rico on 25-9-14
32- Tatiana Kosheleva of Russia v Turkey on 2-10-14
Top blocking performances
10- Kubra Akman of Turkey v Bulgaria on 25-9-14
9- Zhu Ting of China v Japan on 28-9-14
Top serving performances
6- Regla Gracia Gonzalez of Cuba v Azerbaijan on 29-9-14
5- Mizuho Ishida of Japan v Azerbaijan on 23-9-14
5- Margareta Kozuch of Germany v Croatia on 28-9-14
Top team blocking performances
24- Brazil v Turkey on 27-9-14
19- China v Japan on 28-9-14
Top team serving performances
13- Azerbaijan v Croatia on 4-10-14
13- Croatia v Tunisia on 27-9-14
12- Germany v Croatia on 28-9-14
Highest scoring sets
36-34 Thailand v Mexico (2nd set) on 25-9-14
34-32 USA v Russia (1st set) on 28-9-14
32-30 Netherlands v Mexico (1st set) on 28-9-14
Highest scoring matches
220- USA v Russia 3-1 (34-32, 25-19, 29-31, 26-24) on 28-9-14
218- Azerbaijan v Puerto Rico 3-2 (25-20, 24-26, 26-24, 16-25, 17-15) on 25-9-14
218- Croatia v Dominican Republic 2-3 (22-25, 13-25, 25-22, 26-24, 17-19) on 25-9-14
218- Turkey v Russia 3-2 (19-25, 25-27, 25-22, 25-22, 15-13) on 2-10-14
218- China v Dominican Republic 3-2 (22-25, 23-25, 25-23, 25-23, 15-12) on 9-10-14