China Enters final of Universiade Women's VolleyballReigning champions China beat Thailand 3-1 Wednesday to extend their winning streak to five, waltzing into the final of the women's volleyball at the world University Games.The Chinese women spikers, who was crowned in the latest games in Palma, scored a 25-19, 20-25, 25-13, 25-19 victory over the Thais. "On the whole, I think our team is just OK today," said Chinese team leader Xin Yi. Speaking of the second set China lost, she said:"Our spikers lack the ability of adjustment to the game." The Chinese women spikers, seeking for its fifth title, have won the tournament in 1981, 1987, 1995 and 1999. China fielded their first line-up for the second time in the games which are composed of two national team spikers and three former national team players, from the beginning of the first set. With their superiority of height and power, the Chinese spikers did not meet much resistance from Thais, ranked sixth in Palma games two years ago, to take the first set 25-19. But the Thai team playeda very good defense and attacking in the second set and led from 5-0 to 19-13. Though the host team narrowed the score at 19-17 but they had to give up the set 25-20 because of its own errors and unsteady defense. This is the first set that the Chinese women spikers conceded in the Games. The Chinese regained their form in the third set by stopping the Thais' spiking and releasing their own powerful serving and spiking, winning at 25-13. The fourth set saw the Chinese continue dominating the game, finishing off the Thais at 25-19. China will take on the winners between Russia and Brazil of another semi-finals to be played later on Wednesday. |
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