China Ranks Second in World Women's Volleyball GP in Macao

China Ranks Second in World Women's Volleyball GP in Macao

Local favorites China lost 2-3 to defending champion Brazil to place second at the China's Macao leg of World Women's Volleyball Grand Prix in Macao on Sunday.

The scores were 22-25, 25-27, 25-22, 25-18 and 14-16.

"The two teams gave an excellent performance today, the powerfull attacks and delicate passes are the keys to our victory of the match," said Brazilian trainer Jose Santos.

Chinese head coach Hu Jin said: "Though we lost the game, my players performed better than I expected today."

China and Brazil were drawn into the same group in the coming Olympics and are favourites for the medal competition.

United States toppled Japan 25-18, 25-17 and 25-21 in another match on Sunday. The Americans ranked third in the tournament with one win and two losses while Japan finished fourth with three staight losses.

In the first two sets, world and Olympic runners-up China opened a flying start by producing a flurry of fierce attacks and sound defence that caught the Brazilians out of position in most of the time.

But the Chinese spikers could not get the big points at the crucial time as they gave up 14-7 and 19-16 lead, lossing the first set 25-22.

To make them even feel more painful, the Chinese lost the second 27-25 when they led all the way to 24-21.

The Chinese again led all the way and was caught up by Brazil, finished third in last year's world cup in Japan, at 22-all and 23- all in the third set.

China did not let Brazil turn the tables again when they finished the set 25-23 by spiking two points.

Asked why China performed so differently compared with their brilliant show in the last stage of the first two sets, Chinese head coach Hu Jin said^A few changes of the Brazilan line-up in the fourth set caused their defeat when the Chinese won the set at 25-18.

In the decider, the two teams leveled from 11-all to 14-all and Brazil finished the match 16-14 with a Chinese mistake and a spike.

Rising star Erika Coimbra of Brazil was crowned most valuable player in the leg.

The world top eight women's teams will be re-grouped and compete at Chinese Taipei and Malaysia legs at next weekend.