Recap of Girls’ U17 World Championship semifinals
Japan’s Saya Nakayama against the Italian blockers in one of the semifinals
An Asian classic between Japan and China shaped up as the duel that will determine the historic first winner of the FIVB Volleyball Girls’ U17 World Championship as they beat Italy and Chinese Taipei, respectively, in Friday’s semifinals of the inaugural edition of the event in Lima. Saturday’s gold medal showdown is set to start at 19:30 local time (00:30 + 1 day UTC). Italy and Chinese Taipei will lock horns for the bronze at 13:30 (18:30).
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Semifinals 1 – 4: Japan overcome Italian block party
For the third time in the tournament Italy put up a great block party, raising 15 or more kill blocks in a single match, but that was not enough to overcome Japan in their semifinal encounter at the Coliseo Eduardo Dibos in the Peruvian capital on Friday. Japan achieved a 3-1 (25-17, 25-11, 20-25, 25-22) victory and secured a spot on the historic podium. The Asian team’s service pressure resulted in 11 aces, but that was only one of the elements that made the difference in the match. Japan also completely outplayed Italy in attack and made much fewer unforced errors. Their opposite Hikari Kudo led the team with 18 points, while the European squad’s outside hitter and captain Ludovica Tosini tallied a match-high 20 points. Italy’s middle blocker Sara Mori impressed with six stuffs during the match.
China produced a clean sweep of the other semifinal. They hammered out a 3-0 (25-17, 25-15, 25-19) shutout of Chinese Taipei, outplaying the opponents in all scoring elements: 9-1 in kill blocks, 8-2 in aces, 15-24 in unforced errors and 34-33 in spike kills. China’s outside Sun Hongyun was the best scorer of the match with 13 points.
China’s libero Li Mingjing in action
Semifinals 5 – 8: Hosts Peru to challenge Brazil for fifth place
Hosts Peru will try to get back at Brazil in Saturday’s fifth place match at 16:30 (21:30) after losing to them in straight sets in their pool-stage game on opening day. To qualify for that match, the home side delighted the thousands of fans on the stands at the Coliseo Eduardo Dibos with a 3-1 (25-22, 25-17, 22-25, 25-21) victory over Türkiye on Friday. Peru’s 15-year-old outside and captain Ariana Vasquez led the team with a match-high 23 points.
The Peruvian players greet the fans after defeating Türkiye
Brazil bounced back from their quarterfinal loss to Chinese Taipei with a hard-fought 3-2 (20-25, 25-12, 24-26, 25-17, 15-9) win over Mexico. Their middle Mariana Gaviolle Medeiros raised six of the team’s 15 kill blocks towards the victory, while outside Eduarda Zeni topped the scorers’ chart with 18 points.
Saturday’s seventh place match between Türkiye and Mexico will start at 10:30 (15:30).
Semifinals 9 – 12: Fortes scores 28 to lead Argentina in five-set battle with Thailand
In another five-set battle, Argentina overcame Thailand’s resistance and qualified for Saturday’s ninth-place match against Puerto Rico at 18:00 (23:00). Producing the best individual scoring performance within a single match of the tournament so far, outside Justina Fortes contributed 28 points, all in attack, towards a 3-2 (15-25, 25-22, 11-25, 25-16, 15-9) victory. After a tight duel, Puerto Rico beat Croatia in straight sets, 3-0 (25-21, 30-28, 26-24). 14-year-old opposite Decelise Champion, with 18 points, once again led Puerto Rico’s scorers, while her 15-year-old Croatian counterpart Asja Zolota topped the match chart with 22 points.
Croatia and Thailand will meet for the 11th place at 15:00 (20:00) on Saturday.
Semifinals 13 – 16: Canada and Egypt celebrate first wins in Lima
Canada and Egypt will face each other for the 13th place on Saturday at 12:00 (17:00) after celebrating their first wins of the tournament on Friday. The North Americans won the all-NORCECA clash with the Dominican Republic by 3-1 (26-24, 19-25, 25-21, 25-15) with the help of an impressive tournament-high 18 aces.
Opposite Ana Stojanovic was the best scorer of the match with 16 points. Led by outside and captain Nour Awad Elsafy with 15 points, Egypt achieved a 3-0 (25-20, 25-21, 25-20) shutout of Ecuador. The Dominican Republic and Ecuador will play for the 15th place at 09:00 (14:00).
FIVB Volleyball Girls’ U17 World Championship: results and schedule
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