After Wednesday’s defeat to Argentina, which was fatal for the Czech side in their fight for fourth place, coach Jannis Athanasopulos has changed the starting line-up. Prostejov’s Petra Faltínová took over from captain Andrea Kossányiová in the smash.
“I found out a moment before the game, when we were kissing. Nobody told me why. Maybe the reason was for him to rest,” said Faltínová. This time, Veronika Dostálová played free in place of Daniela Digrinová.
The Asian team entered the field with strength and suffered a 4-0 lead. The Czech team then caught on and played brave volleyball. “We entered the match with clear ideas, we wanted to play a good sport. I think we succeeded,” said the bold Michaela Mlejnková on Czech television.
From the second set, the game was absolutely even. Handyman Gabriela Orvošová, who collected 20 points, and blocker Pavlína Šimáňová were particularly effective in attacking the bronze medal in defense from China. In the Chinese jersey, the tremendous two-meter-long Juan Sin-yüe was dominant in the decisive moments.
The second set came even, but from the score of 22:22 the Chinese scored three goals in a row. The last two balls belonged to their captain Jüan Sin-Jüe. First he blocked a too long reception from Mlejnková and then he blocked Faltínová.
The third set was even. Czech volleyball players led 16:12 with the help of several Chinese mistakes in attack, but the favorites caught up and the decision was finally made.
The Czech players saved two match points, but never returned to the set point, and the Chinese ended the game at the third match point. “It is a pity that we did not reach the winning finish in at least one end. It is there that the strength of Chinese women showed itself,” regretted Dostálova.
Coach Athanasopulos praised the performance of his posts. “The very, very small details made the difference. I think it was a good fight. We played good volleyball,” he said.
While China did not lose a set even in the fourth match of the World Cup, Czech women’s volleyball players still only lost sets against Brazil and Argentina. On Saturday they will face Colombia from 18:00.
It will be a duel for fifth place in the group. The Colombians are currently leading by one point, having led 2: 1 in sets in the South American derby with Argentina.
But they have lost the next two sets and, like the Czech Republic, can no longer advance in the group of eight. The Czech volleyball players have also won two sets, but have collected them in two games, so they are still waiting for the first point in the standings.
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