SUPREME STORM INTO 3-0 WIN ON PAYKAN

Ust-Kamenogorsk, Kazakhstan, July 14, 2018 – Thailand’s Supreme secured a 3-0 win on Iran’s Paykan (25-14, 25-12, 25-16) during a classification match of the SMM 2018 Asian Women’s Club Volleyball Championship.

Ajcharaporn Kongyot was the top scorer on Saturday’s match at the Boris Alexandrov Sports Palace, charting a total of 17 points (12 attacks, 3 service aces, 2 blocks). Taylor Sandbothe (12 points) and captain Wilavan Apinyapong (10 points) helped out with double-digit contributions.

Apinyapong said “I think that we are improving as a team after each match. We did not have enough time to prepare together for this tournament, but now our communication and teamwork is getting better.”

Supreme surged to an 8-1 lead at the first technical time-out, using quick-paced offense as orchestrated by setter Nootsara Tomkom. Apinyapong and Kongyot took care of the flanks, while Pleumjit Thinkaow unleashed attacks from the middle. Paykan could not find stability nor rhythm in their offense. Soudabeh Bagherpour and Tahmineh Dargazani connected with their attacks, but they needed to more play with more accuracy and consistency. The Thai club dominated the first set to win 25-14.

By the next set, Supreme continued to run their attacks with much variety, with Fatou Diouck now getting a good deal of plays. They may have been prone to several attack errors, but the breadth of armory that they possessed brought them to settle into a 16-10 lead at the second TTO. Paykan’s Mahsa Kadkhoda managed to score, but the team seemed to lack defensive composure to set up viable plays in transition. Supreme stormed into a 25-12 finish in the second set.

Supreme’s coach Nataphon Srisamutnak stuck to his starters even by the third set. The combination has worked for him so far. Paykan captain Maedeh Borhani worked on her swings and scored off two winners from the service line, to come within a point at 14-15. The Iran club was unable to stage an overtake of their opponents. Meanwhile, Supreme reigned in each scoring skill, all the way to a strong 25-16 finish in the final set.

Apinyapong added “There is a little pressure on us to do really well because we are last year’s champions. But I try to talk to my teammates each time to remind them to just play with a sense of fun instead of pressure. I think that in the end, it will bring us good results.”