ARNHEM, Netherlands, Sept. 26 (Xinhua) — Defending champions Serbia held the nerve of their second group match on the FIVB Volleyball Women’s World Championship on Monday, coming from 2-1 right down to defeat Bulgaria 25-21, 22-25, 25-27, 25-21, 15-9 in a five-set thriller.
Outside hitter Bianka Busa swept a game-high 26 factors for the title holders with 20 from assaults, 4 from blocks and two aces. Captain Tijana Boskovic added 22 and Sara Lozo had 16.
Currently ranked fifteenth on this planet, Bulgaria obtained higher of the world No. 5 within the second and third units. Five gamers hit double-digit scores for Bulgaria with reverse Silvana Chausheva main the scoring at 18 factors.
But Serbia recovered within the final two units, particularly within the decider, as Bianka contributed 4 factors with an effectivity of fifty %.
Serbia slipped to 3rd place within the pool after the win, falling behind the United States and Germany. Bulgaria had one level to rank fourth whereas Canada and Kazakhstan, who each stay scoreless, sit on the backside of the pool.
The prime 4 groups from the 4 swimming pools advance to the following section of the event.
Olympic champions the United States claimed their second straight-set win by outscoring Canada 25-19, 26-24, 25-15 within the final match of the day. Earlier within the day, Germany had tamed Kazakhstan, additionally in straight units 25-15, 25-18, 25-21.
For a second straight match, Ali Frantti led the American offense. The 26-year-old outdoors hitter chipped in 15 factors towards Canada and hit a powerful 52 % effectivity fee.
“At the end of the day, we’re just having fun,” Frantti mentioned. “We’ve been pushing so hard in training leading up to the World Championship and we know every team will come here and do their best. They pushed us at the end of the second set but we were ready to battle for each point and went for it.”
Olympic champion reverse Annie Drews, who had a 50 % effectivity fee in hitting, got here proper behind Frantti with 14 factors.
In Pool D, Japan cruised previous the Czech Republic 25-15, 25-20, 25-12 to share prime spot with Brazil, who additionally wrapped up their second straight-set victory by beating South American neighbors Argentina 25-19, 25-13, 25-21.
China, one other powerhouse in Pool D, will tackle Colombia on Tuesday.