Chinese Women's Spikers Advance into Semi-finals at UniversiadeDefending champions China kept its winning streak here Monday with straight sets victory over Japan for a place in the top four of the women's volleyball tournament at the 21st World University Games.The Chinese women spikers, gold medal winner at the last Universiade in Palma de Mallorca, had a near flawless volleyball to give their team a commanding 25-14, 25-15, 32-30 victory over the Japanese. "We had excellent first two games, but they slacked off in the third set, " Chinese coach Lin Yuting said of the match. Talking about the semi-finals and arch-rivals in the finals, " We first must overtake Thailand and then we probably meet Brazil or Russia in the finals. Both teams are very tough for us," he said. Japanese coach Norimasa Sakakuchi meanwhile said the defeated was resulted from lack of experience. "My players are full-time university students, they are lacking of experiences," he said, adding that he believes China is capable to win the title. The Chinese women spikers won the tournament in 1981, 1987, 1995 and 1999 Universiades respectively. China fielded a strong line-up for the first time in the games, composed of two national spikers and three former national players, from the very beginning of the first set. The Chinese got off a sound start by unleashing several lightning winners and unbroken blocking, leading at 12-5. After the Japanese fought back to 18-14, the Chinese never gave their opponents any chance and got seven points in a row, sealing the set at 25-14. The Chinese women's power and their superior height told everything, finishing off the Japanese in the second set at 25-15. But the Japanese turned the table and led at 24-23 after the Chinese substituted setter Chu Yunying and spiker Wang Lina in the third set. But China regained the upper-hand of the game by re- fielding the two aces, sealing the set and match at 32-30. China will take on Thailand in a semi-finals on Wednesday. Thailand, ranked sixth in Palma de Mallorca games two years ago, showed no mercy to score a 27-25, 25-20, 25-18 win over Chinese Taipei. Hot Favorites Brazil encountered stiff challenge from the Canadians before taking the match at 25-20, 25-21, 23-25 and 25-21. In semi-finals, the Brazilians are to face Russians, who thumped Spain 25-22, 25-22, 25-11. "If everything goes smoothly, we probably meet Russia, more tougher than Brazil, in the finals, " said Chinese team leader Xin Yi. |
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