China
Brazil national team was the first to secure a ticket for the Women’s Volleyball Tournament in the Tokyo Olympics so, there were 5 vacancies left prior to the last day of the competition in the International Qualifier. There were 4 direct clashes for the top of the pool and a spot in Tokyo…
China gave no chance to Turkey
The current Olympic Games winners China were superb against Turkey at home in Ningbo, in Pool B, by a 3-0 (25-18, 25-12, 25-18) and will contest in the Olympics for the 10th successive time. Interestingly, this was the first-ever clash between these 2 sides in qualifications for the Olympic Games. China remained on single digits when it comes to unforced errors (9), while Turkey committed 18. Zhu Ting top-scored for the Asian side with 20 points, while Zhang Changning made 4 kill blocks. Ebrar Karakurt was Turkey’s best scorer with 15 points. Recall that Turkey was deprived of the help from an important player Meliha İsmailoğlu.
Russia made a memorable comeback against Korea
One more host was successful on their way towards Tokyo. Russia staged a memorable comeback against South Korea from 2 sets down and 18-22 in the 3rd set in Pool E decider in Kaliningrad: 3-2 (21-25, 20-25, 25-22, 25-16, 15-11)! This was Russia’s 11th consecutive win in Qualifications for the Olympic Games. Note that, including their predecessor, the Soviet Union, Russia have never failed to reach the Olympics. This also applies for 1984 when they secured participation but boycotted the event. Nataliya Goncharova tallied 20 points for “Zbornaya“ while Irina Fetisova made monster blocking display (8 kill blocks!). Kim Yeon-Koung’s 25 points were not enough for Korea to crown their notable International Qualifier campaign with the Tokyo ticket.
Bošković prevented Pool A hosts Poland to reach Tokyo
Serbia
Poland are the only hosts in these Qualifications that remained empty-handed when it comes to progressing to the Tokyo Olympics. They were stopped by the world champions Serbia in Pool A in Wrocław: 3-1 (21-25, 25-23, 25-16, 25-23). Serbia’s superstar Tijana Bošković stepped up when her team needed her most, at a 5-point deficit in the 4th set (15-20). She finished the match with 27 points, which was as much as Poland’s standout Malwina Smarzek recorded.
Italy didn’t lose a single set in their stunning International Qualifier campaign
Pool F supposed to be the most competitive pool in the International Qualifier but the hosts Italy took care to completely eliminate the suspense. In Catania, Italy swept all rivals, including the one in a direct face-off for the berth in the Tokyo Olympics – the Netherlands. Furthermore, Italy did not lose a single set in all 3 games! The Dutch girls resisted Italy harder than the 2 previous rivals against which “Azzurrine“ conceded only 88 points in total (14.7 per set!). The Netherlands took 62 points overall today: 3-0 (25-23, 25-17, 25-22). Paola Egonu tallied 27 points for the winning side. Robin De Kruijf was the only player in double digits for the Netherlands (15 points).
The USA left nothing to chance
USA
The USA did not want to leave anything to calculations and recorded a straight-set win against Argentina at home in Shreveport-Bossier City, in Pool C: 3-0 (25-22, 25-17, 25-13). The United States needed 3 points to book the ticket for the Tokyo Olympics. The win or defeat in 5 sets would leave their players to bite nails until the end of the match between Bulgaria and Kazakhstan in which they would need the victory of Kazakh ladies, who took only one set in the first 2 games. USA’s Jordan Thompson scored game-high 16 points, while Tori Dixon made 4 kill blocks.
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