USA triumph to start defense of the crown

KOBE, Japan, September 29, 2018 - The United States began their defense of the Women's World Championship with a hard-fought Pool C victory over a powerful Azerbaijan team at Kobe Green Arena on Saturday.

The Americans saved five set points in the opening frame before going on to win 3-0 with scores of 29-27, 25-21, 25-21 in a hugely entertaining game.

It was a great team effort by the USA, who had 12 points from Kimberly Hill and 11 each from Jordan Larson and Kelly Murphy. Azerbaijan had the game's top scorer, however, in Polina Rahimova, whose 23 points included 17 vicious spikes and four jump-serve aces.

Also in Kobe, Russia rumbled to an impressive straight-sets victory over a plucky Trinidad and Tobago in the Group C opener. Led by Nataliya Goncharova with 13 points, Russia won comfortably 25-21, 25-11, 25-12 in 67 minutes.

Irina Koroleva and Kseniia Parubets both added nine points, including six blocks for Koroleva. Channon Thompson led the Trinidad and Tobago reply with 11 points, and left-hander Krystle Esdelle added nine.

In Hamamatsu, Brankica Mijajlovic scored 21 points as Serbia defeated the Dominican Republic in straight sets 3-0 (25-17, 25-20, 25-22) in Pool D.

Tijana Boskovic and Milana Rasic contributed 15 and 11 points, respectively, in the victory. Brayelin Martinez finished with 10 points as the only Dominican in double digits.

Also in Hamamatsu, Fernanda Rodrigues scored nine points to lead Brazil to a 3-0 (27-25, 25-12, 25-7) over Puerto Rico.

Tandara Caixeta added seven points in the win for Brazil, while Gabriela Guimaraes and Ana Correa contributed five each. Four players (Stephanie Enright, Karina Ocasio, Ana Jusino and Diana Reyes) led Puerto Rico in the loss with five points apiece.

In Yokohama, Cameroon’s Laetitia Bassoko scored 21 points helping her side to a first ever victory at the competition with a 3-1 (17-25, 25-23, 25-17, 25-21) over Mexico in Pool A.

Christelle Nana and Stephanie Mogoung contributed 15 and 10, respectively as the Cameroonians ended their run of 10 straight defeats at the World Championship. Andrea Rangel had 20 points for Mexico.

In Sapporo, Turkey beat Canada 3-0 (25-18, 25-13, 25-15) in Pool B with 11 points coming via aces.

Seyma Ercan, Meryen Boz and Eda Erdem Dundar led Turkey with 14, 13 and 12 points, respectively. Kiera Van Rik had 12 points for Canada.

Also in Sapporo, Yuan Xinyue matched Zhu’s 16 points in China’s 3-0 (25-12, 25-23, 25-14) win over Cuba but she was the star of the show, coming up with some big points when it mattered, including seven super blocks. 

Olympic champions China had a total of 17 blocking points against a lively Cuba team that did it brilliantly considering nine of the squad of 12 are teenagers.