Hosts Thailand up against Korea, Japan set cup 2012 final rematch with China in semi-finals of Asian Girls’ U17 Championship Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand, October 17, 2014 – Invincible Japan mercilessly crushed New Zealand in a totally lop-sided battle on Friday to set up clash of the Titans with world champions China, with hosts Thailand pitted against Korea in the semi-finals of the 10th Asian Girls’ U17 Volleyball Championship at The Mall Nakhon Ratchasima’s MCC Hall. Thailand b Kazakhstan 3-0 (25-13 25-15 25-15) After the Thai girls performed superbly to stun world champions and world No.1 China in their last 8 Pool E playoff clash on Wednesday, a large number of home spectators thronged into the competition venue to support their team in a quarter-final clash with Kazakhstan. World No.17 Thailand, which finished a disappointing fifth place the previous edition in Chengdu, China two years ago, fielded a strong line-up led by Chatchu-on Moksri, Pimpichaya Kokram and Paweenut Rueangram. Chatchu-on, key player of the team, sustained a shoulder injury during the tough match against China, but healed her injury in time to help the team in this crucial match. Kazakhstan started strongly to take an early 5-2 lead, thanks to the host girls’ poor first-ball reception. However, boosted by a drum-beating, dancing section, the Thai team improved their game and hit back with spectacular attacks from Chatchu-on and Pimpichaya to help their team catch the visitors at 10-10 before surging ahead 17-11. Kazakhstan heightened their defence, hoping to allow the Thai counterparts scoring difficulties. However, their determined attempts were to no avail. Thailand stormed on to take the comfortable first set 25-13. Thailand took command in the second set to lead 13-9 initially. Solid blockings by Kanittha Juangjan and Chatchu-on helped the host side stretch it to 21-13 and never looked back since then. Thailand snatched the set 25-15 for a 2-0 advantage. The third set was still dominated by Thailand. Pimpichaya carried out well-placed serves, while Chatchu-on remained a nightmare for the blockers. After leading commandingly 16-7, Thailand widened the gap to 22-10. Kazakhstan regained their composure, with Mechshaninova and Margarita Belchenko producing stuff blockings and Zhanna Syroyeshkina attacking aggressively to help the team score four points in a row to reduce the gap 14-22. Thailand went on their attacks to advance to 24-15 before Chatsuda Nilapa, a substituted player sent in the court in the second and third sets, produced a great serve which went without returning. Thailand captured the set 25-15, the match and a semi-final berth. With the win, Thailand captured a ticket to test their mettle in the next year’s FIVB World Girls’ U18 Volleyball Championship in Peru. Chatchu-on Moksri scored a match-high 16 points including 12 kills from 25 attempts for Thailand. Pimpichaya Kokram also scored additional 12 points for the team through her attack hits. Zhanna Syroyeshkina led Kazakhstan with eight points. “I’m very glad that we won again. However, I admit that it’s an expected win in this match against Kazakhstan. I watched them play and I think they are not too strong. Our semi-final match against Korea must be a tougher task. They are strong and played fast game with quick attacks. However, if my girls maintained their form as they did in the previous match against China, I’m still upbeat that a win over Korea is possible,” said Thailand’s head coach Tanasak Rattanarasi. Korea b the Philippines 3-0 (25-15 25-16 25-12) Korea, world No.23 which have yet won a title in any edition, came up with impressive form in an encounter against the Philippines. Captain An Hyejin got the team off to a brilliant start with her twinkling serves which sparked Korea to a 10-4 lead in the first set. The Philippines clawed their way back, with Maria Lina Isabel Molde penetrating the Korean defence with her attacks to help her team narrow the gap at 12-17. However, the rhythm was with Korea from then on. They played consistently with speed and power at the net to win the opening set 25-15. Korea still proved that they are much stronger in the second set when they raced to a 7-1 lead, courtesy of the Filipinas’ poor first-ball reception. The Philippines tried to counter-attack but Korea performed exceptionally to foil the rivals’ determined efforts. Korea sealed the second set victory 25-16. Korea took control in the third set, which they continued their winning streak from the beginning to finish. Korea won the comfortable third set 25-12, the match and a semi-final berth against hosts Thailand. To reach this round, Korea also made the cut for the next year’s world meet in Peru. Ko Minji topscored with 15 points for Korea, while Maria Lina Isabel Molde led the Philippines with seven points. Japan b New Zealand 3-0 (25-13 25-7 25-5) World No.3 and defending successive four-time champions Japan, the only team yet losing a set to their respective rivals in the nine-day competition, excelled defensively and offensively in their easy match against underdogs New Zealand. Japan, which finished fifth in the last year’s world meet here in Nakhon Ratchasima, remained strong in their formidable line-up led by Airi Miyabe, Shuri Yamaguchi and Shiori Aratani, while New Zealand were strengthened by Imogen Francis and Alice Seemann. After thrashing the inexperienced Kiwis to take the first two sets with ease 25-13 25-7, a fired-up Japan rested their best players and instead fielded several substitutions including Miku Shimada, Rin Takahashi and sister Marina Takahashi to captured the completely one-sided third set 25-5, the encounter and a semi-final berth. Haruka Sekiyama tallied nine points for Japan comprising six from deadly attacks and additional three from her effective blocking. Alice Seemann led New Zealand with six points. China b Chinese Taipei 3-0 (25-12 25-18 25-17) World champions and world No.1 China, which lost their pride in the Pool E playoffs earlier when they went down in hard-fought five-set thriller to hosts Thailand, aimed to make amends for the loss. To keep their hopes of advancing to the semi-finals alive, the Chinese fielded their best players in including devastating southpaw Li Yingying, Li Yanan, the 194cm-tall Han Wenya and Zhing Yuqian in this match against Chinese Taipei. China used their height advantage to attack spectacularly and block effectively to take the easy opener 25-12. Chinese Taipei hit back in the second set, with Huang Ching-Hsuan overpowering the taller blockers with her exceptional spikes. Trailing 14-24, Chinese Taipei scored four points in a row before Zhang Yuqian smashed a deadly spike to end the smaller-built rivals’ challenge. China bagged the second set 25-18. China still led Chinese Taipei with a wide margin in the third set, with Li Yingying puncturing the Taiwanese defence with her fierce attacks and Jiang Jing and Li Yanan producing ace serves. The end of the third set was the similar script as the second when China took a commanding 24-13 before a determined Chinese Taipei pulled their game together to win straight four points to come close at 17-24. A sharp cross-court spike from Qian Jingwen went unanswered to stop the Chinese Taipei’s run. China captured the set 25-17 and the match. Li Yingying led China in this match with 15 points. She also led in the blocking skill with four points, while team-mates Jiang Jing and Li Yanan fared well to share five points apiece in the serving skill. Huang Ching-Hsuan emerged as the top scorer of Chinese Taipei as she netted 13 points for the team. In the Saturday’s semi-finals, China will challenge old foes Japan, the team they had lost for consecutive three times in the previous three editions they met in the final showdown, while hosts Thailand will go up against Korea in the other semi-final clash. The lower-ranked 5th-8th playoffs will see New Zealand take on Chinese Taipei and Kazakhstan play the Philippines. Meanwhile, Vietnam outclassed India in straight sets 25-15 25-18 26-24 in the 11th-12th playoff on Friday. However, Vietnam still violated the AVC rules and regulations by fielding three players who had competed in the previous edition in Chengdu, China two years ago. Following the Control Committee’s decision, Vietnam lost this match with a 0-25 0-25 0-25 scoreline to finish 12th place overall. India came in 11th place in this championship. Friday’s results 11th-12th playoff: India b Vietnam 3-0 (25-0 25-0 25-0), in game - Vietnam b India 3-0 (25-15 25-18 26-24) Quarter-finals: Thailand b Kazakhstan 3-0 (25-13 25-15 25-15) Japan b New Zealand 3-0 (25-13 25-7 25-5) China b Chinese Taipei 3-0 (25-12 25-18 25-17) Korea b Philippines 3-0 (25-15 25-16 25-12) Match schedule Saturday, October 18, 2014 10am: 9th-10th: Hong Kong v Iran 12pm: 5th-8th: New Zealand v Chinese Taipei 2pm: 5th-8th: Kazakhstan v the Philippines 4pm: Semi-finals: Japan v China 6pm: Semi-finals: Thailand v Korea Photos of the October 17 quarter-finals of the 10th Asian Girls’ U17 Volleyball Championship at The Mall Nakhon Ratchasima’s MCC Hall in Thailand 1. Chinas Qian Jingwen attacks Taiwanese blockers. 2. Japans Miharu Yoshioka attacks New Zealand at the wing. 3.Koreas Lee Miae tries to block a spike from Chinese Taipei. 4. Koreas Lee Miae stretches to receive. 5. Thailands Pimpichaya Kokram jumps for joy after her team won a match against Kazakhstan. 6. Thailands Natthanicha Jaisaen tries to keep the ball rolling.
Posted on: Sat, 18 Oct 2014 05:14:48 +0000