Jiangmen, China, July 1, 2024 – Gallant Kazakhstan edged past Australia with epic comeback 3-2 (18-25, 25-22, 21-25, 25-21, 16-14) win in their opening Pool A match of the 22nd Asian Women’s U20 Volleyball Championship at the Jiangmen Sports Center Gymnasium on Monday.
Amina Kyrykbayeva delivered 20 points from 17 kills and 3 aces for Kazakhstan, with Sofiya Gorbacheva and Anel Kozhakhmetova added 19 and 11 points respectively. Ella Schubort scored a match-high 22 points, while Cameron Zajer added 21 and Chloe Walker 13 respectively.
Australia, led by hard-attacking Ella Schubort, who stands 189cm tall, made an aggressive start in the first set to lead 4-0 before Kazakhstan hit back in the same fashion to score three points in a row 3-4. Leading with a four-point clear at 10-6, the Australians maintained their momentum and broke away, but the Kazakh girls did not surrender as they bounced back to reduce the margin with just one point behind at 16-17.
As Kazakhstan struggled to live up to their expectations, Australia went on their attacks to maintain their lead 21-17 and never looked back since then. The Aussies reached the set point following a service error by Amina Kyrykbayeva before Schabort produced a fierce attack for the team’s 25-18 win.
Conceding one set, Kazakhstan put their acts together. Amina Kyrykbayeva and Ayaulym Turdykhanova overcame the Australian defence with their attacks to help the team take the commanding lead as wide as seven points at 17-10, but the Aussies counter-attacked well to level it at 18-18. Kazakhstan remained dominant at the near-end set to lead narrowly 23-22, but fortunately, the Aussies made two mistakes, one from a service error from Schubort and another one from Jolie Whincup, whose spike went wide. Kazakhstan won the second set 25-22.
Australia stayed in control in the third set, which they remained in good form to lead 17-12, but their opponents started gradually hustling back to catch up at 18-18. Schubort and Cameron Zajer joined forces in puncturing the Kazakh defence apart with their attacks to bring the Aussies to the set point 24-19. Kazakhstan saved two set points before Australia sealed the deal in this set 25-21.
The fourth set proved a see-saw battle. Kazakhstan fought hard to take the lead with a five-point advantage at 10-5, but Australia stormed back to level it at 16-16, thanks to their heightened defence, attacks from Schubort and solid blocks by Chelsea Durbridge and Chloe Walker. Still, Kazakhstan had enough in their tank to hold them off and win the set 25-21, forcing the tie-breaker to determine the eventual winners.
In the decider, Australia took a commanding 6-1 lead, but Kazakhstan roared back to level it at 7-7 and surged ahead the rivals 13-11. Australia were just never-say-die and hit back gallantly for 14-14 tie. However, Kazakhstan held their nerves to win two points on the trot 16-14 and match.
“The first match is always very difficult. Our first match against Australia was the same. My players came from different clubs and different cities and we gathered as a team to train just around one month. We had no tournament to test our ability ahead of this championship. However, as we won the match, we are very delighted,” Kazakstan’s head coach Azamat Yessimov commented after the exhausting match.
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