China Puerto Rico
Zhang Chen sparked China with a match-high 13 points, while Chen Ping contributed 10 in the triumph.
Juan Figueroa led Puerto Rico with 11 points. Roberto Muniz added 10 in the loss.
Puerto Rico was unable to handle the speed and power of 10th-ranked China, which seemed to turn it up a notch whenever they needed to.
Chen‘s block gave China a 5-4 lead in the first set. Fernando Morales sent a serve into the net and China was up 8-5 at the first TTO. Yuan Zhi‘s spike put China up 10-7.
Ezequiel Cruz crushed a spike to pull Puerto Rico within 12-10. Liang Chunlong made a quick spike off an option play for 15-12. China was on top 16-13 at the first TTO.
Juan Figueroa‘s spike pulled Puerto Rico within 18-16. China was in front 21-18 when Puerto Rico called a timeout. Roberto Muniz soared for a spike to move Puerto Rico within a point at 21-20 and China took a timeout. A service ace by Muniz equalized at 22-22. Yuan‘s spike gave China set point at 24-22. Cruz sent a serve long to give China the set at 25-22.
Yuan had six points in the set, while Muniz and Figueroa had five each.
Bian Hongmin‘s spike staked China to a 5-2 lead in the second set. A reception error by Puerto Rico made it 7-5 and China was up 8-5 at the second TTO on a spike Zhang Chen.
Chen Ping‘s spike made it 10-7. Puerto Rico tied it 12-12 on a reception error. Chen sent a serve into the net and China led 15-14. He followed with a spike and China was on top 16-14 at the second TTO. A reception error by Puerto Rico put China on top 21-16 as they moved for the set. Zhang sent a soft return into an open space and China was two points from the set at 23-17. China claimed the set at 25-19.
Liang tomahawked a spike to spot China to a 5-1 lead in the third set. Chen‘s spike put China up 8-1 at the first TTO. Enrique Escalante served into the net for 11-4. Figueroa sent a spike long for 15-7 and a Chinese spike made it 16-7 at the second TTO. Another spike by Chen gave China a 10-point lead at 18-8. Chen‘s block made it 20-11 and China marched toward taking the match. A spike down the middle by Zhong Weijun put China within two points of victory at 23-14. Liang closed out the match with a quick spike.
China takes on Iran in their next match on Saturday, while Puerto Rico faces Australia.
