WPG: Ping vs Kiraly! A duel of legends in favor of woman!

USA will not claim the FIVB World Grand Prix 4th time in a row! Americans was beaten by China in straight sets buried all hopes. China remains the major candidate next to Brazil to grab the trophy. The match was also a duel of two outstanding volleyball characters, Lang Ping and Karch Kiraly. Both the legends, who are actually the coaches, were selected the best volleyball players in the twentieth century.

 

China – USA 3 – 0 (25-20, 25-23, 25-17)

China: Shen 2, Zhu 23, Ma Yunwen 4, Zeng 8, Yin 7, Yang 5, Chen (L) and Ruoqi 7, Yunli Xu
USA: A. Glass 2, Hill 7, Harmotto 9, Murphy 11, Hildebrand 10, Gibbemeyer 7, Miyashiro (L) and Lichtman, Paolini 1, Hood, Hagglund

With Zhu Ting and Zeng Chunlei in the starting lineup – both had significant roles as subs in Thursday’s five-set win over Italy – China started very confidently and blitzed the Americans in the opening phase, surging to an 8-1 lead at the first technical timeout. Zhu scored four of those points with some huge kills and a good block on Christa Harmotto and China appeared to be cruising. But the Americans started to find a bit of rhythm after the break and captain Kristin Hildebrand came up with excellent blocks on Yang Junjing and Zeng to help her team close the gap to three points at 9-6. China pulled away again and were seven points ahead at the second TTO but then had a sloppy phase that allowed USA to narrow the gap to 17-14, when China coach Lang Ping called a timeout. A great block by Lauren Gibbemeyer on Zhu saw the Americans close to 20-18 but that was as close as they could get. The set ended with the Americans failing to get back weak shots from Yin Na and Ma Yunwen.

Harmotto started the second set with a massive block on Zeng and an overturned China point saw the Americans zip into a 4-0 lead. But errors allowed China to draw level at 9-9 and 11-11. However, they couldn’t take the lead. A rocket by Hildebrand and a reception error put USA 18-14 ahead before three straight points by Zhu brought China back into the game. USA coach Karch Kiraly called a timeout when a service ace by Zeng levelled the scores at 21and then had to see China steal the set. Some brilliant defence saw China take the lead for the first time at 23-22 and a spike by Zhu brought setpoint at 24-23. Zhu then blocked Kimberly Hill – for her 19th point of the match – to put China 2-0 up.

Hildebrand slammed down three kills and made a good block on Ma as USA streaked into a 6-1 lead in the third set, prompting Lang Ping to call a timeout. China survived USA’s second challenge of the set and overturned a six-point deficit at the first TTO to draw level at 9-9 and they went ahead at 12-11 on a vicious blow by Zeng. Kiraly called a timeout at 18-15 after a three-point break by China but USA couldn’t get back into the game. Zhu and Hui came up with rockets as China stretched their lead to seven points at 23-16. A block by Zeng on Hill brought matchpoint and a long shot by Hill ended the match and USA’s reign as World Grand Prix champions.

Team Stats:

Action/TeamSpike pointsSpike %BlockServeDigReceptionSets NoteUnforced ErrorsChina4742%733140%3.6716USA3533%841937%1117

 

Team Leaders:

Action/PlayerPointsSpike PointsSpike %Spike errorsBlockServeUnforced ErrorsTing Zhu232051%3304Kelly Murphy11940%4035

 

Description: FIVB

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