Nakhon Pathom, Thailand, June 16, 2024 – Strong teams powered past lower-ranked opponents to register their first wins in the 15th Asian Women’s U18 Volleyball Championship, as Kazakhstan survived a scare from Hong Kong, China in epic tie-break win on Sunday.
The flagship biennial championship, which got underway on Sunday at Nakhon Pathom Gymnasium here and Ratchaburi Gymnasium in Ratchaburi Province with a distance of approximately 42km away, serves as the Asian qualification for the 2025 FIVB Volleyball Girls’ U19 World Championship, attracted 13 teams to vie for top honor. Top four teams in the June 16-23 championship will qualify for the topflight world meet.
At Nakhon Pathom Gymnasium, Uzbekistan, third place at the CAVA Girls’ U18 Championship on their home soil in Tashkent early this month, pulled off dramatic 3-1 (25-12, 15-25, 25-7, 25-21) win against Macao, China in Pool A, while Pool D encounters saw Korea beat Australia 3-1 (25-18, 21-25, 25-13, 25-18) and Chinese Taipei manage a 3-0 (25-14, 25-12, 25-9) shutout of India, while at Ratchaburi Gymnasium, Kazakhstan overcame a sturdy challenge from Hong Kong, China to beat the determined opponents 3-2 (25-21, 25-21, 14-25, 19-25, 15-12 in Pool C, with Iran demolishing Philippines 3-0 (25-20, 25-19, 25-20) in Pool B.
Formidable Korea, bronze medallists at the previous edition, proved too hot for Australia to handle for 25-18 win in the first set. However, the Aussies bravely bounced back in the second set, with outside hitters Matisse Conlon and Hilary Hannagan attacking effectively to help the team grab the set 25-21.
Korea upped their tempo and played with more aggression in the next two sets. With powerful Park Yeoreum, 182cm, showcasing her talent to come up with spectacular spikes and service aces and Jung A Rim and Kim Jiyoon solidifying the defence with good blocks, Korea captured the one-sided third set 25-13 and 25-18 in the fourth set for the dramatic 3-1 win.
Park Yeoreum played a pivotal role in the Korea’s triumph as she scored a match-high 25 points from 19 kills, one ace and five aces for the team, while Kim Jiyoon and Park Seoyoon kept good company to contribute 17 and 12 points respectively.
As Australia dominated the blocking game, getting 13 stuffs to the opponents’ 7 apart from benefiting from more opponent errors (21 to 20), the Koreans did a very good job of leading the Aussies in kills (55 to 34) and aces (14 to 6).
Uzbekistan, which had a disappointing…
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