In the most interesting match on the first competition day of the FIVB Volleyball Girls’ U17 World Championship in Lima, Italy came back from two sets down against Mexico to open their Pool C campaign with a victory. Other than being the only five-setter of the day, the game will be remembered with the remarkable number of kill blocks registered, a total of 36 on the two sides of the net.
FIVB Volleyball Girls' U17 World Championship
Italy rise from two sets down to beat Mexico in Lima
Recap of Girls’ U17 World Championship first competition day
Published 06:40, 18 Aug 2024
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Pool C: Italy and Mexico have a block party
Italy put away as many as 22 stuffs against Mexico’s 14 and that is what tilted the balance their way, towards a 3-2 (19-25, 17-25, 25-14, 25-19, 15-10) victory. After losing the first two sets, Italy’s coach Pasquale d’Aniello changed his starting opposite to prompt the amazing turnaround. Sub-in Rebecca Aimaretti raised five of her team’s 22 kill blocks to finish with a total of 12 points. 15-year-old setter Alessia Manda delivered as many as nine stuffs, while outside hitter Stella Caruso produced a match-high 18 points. 14-year-old outside Karen Gonzalez was Mexico’s most prolific player with 16 points, while her 14-year-old teammate in the middle, Brenda Esquivel, led Mexico’s blocking effort with seven stuffs to her name.
In the other Pool C match, between Argentina and Egypt, which was the tournament’s opening game on Saturday morning, the South Americans achieved a 3-0 (25-18, 25-17, 25-20) sweep. While outside hitter Justina Fortes was the best scorer of the match with 16 points, her cross-court teammate Helena Cugno made a solid contribution of six aces towards Argentina’s victory to finish with 12 points.
Argentina’s Justina Fortes in action
On Sunday, Argentina will meet Mexico at 10:30 local time (15:30 UTC), and Italy will meet Egypt at 13:30 (18:30).
Pool A: Dominicans and Canadians ace away
In an all-NORCECA clash in Pool A, the Dominican Republic celebrated a 3-1 (25-21, 18-25, 25-18, 25-11) win over Canada. As many as 25 aces were registered in this game, 13 of them for the winning side. Dominican outside hitter and captain Estel Santos led the way with six aces and a match-high 19 points. The team’s other outside, Yamil Moya, chipped in another four aces, while Canada’s opposite Ana Stojanovic produced five aces to lead her team’s scorers with 16 points.
Dominican Republic’s Estel Santos
Brazil topped the current Pool A standings at the end of the first competition day after a 3-0 (25-20, 25-15, 25-16) shutout of hosts Peru, which they hammered out with the help of 17 kill blocks. Six of those were authored by opposite Heloisa De Andrade Benvindo Silva, who topped the charts with a total of 14 points.
The first day’s winners Brazil and Dominican Republic will go head to head on the second say at 16:30 (21:30), while Peru and Canada will lock horns for their first win at 19:30 (00:30 + 1 day).
Pool D: Japan and Puerto Rico start off with victories
In the last match of the first competition day, Japan claimed a 3-1 (25-16, 20-25, 25-13, 25-14) victory over Chinese Taipei with a 19-point match high by outside Saya Nakayama and another 18 points (including four aces) contributed by the team’s other outside, 14-year-old Kaho Yoritomi.
Japan’s libero and captain Kokoro Semba
Earlier in the day, Puerto Rico mastered a 3-0 (25-21, 25-23, 25-11) shutout of Croatia. Their 14-year-old opposite Decelise Champion was the best scorer of the match with 18 points.
Looking for their first wins of the tournament, Croatia and Chinese Taipei will meet at 17:00 (22:00) on Sunday. Three hours later, Japan and Puerto Rico will try to stay unbeaten as they face each other in the last match of the day.
Pool B: China’s Huang makes best scorer of the day
China hammered out a 3-0 (25-16, 25-8, 25-17) sweep of the all-Asian clash with Thailand in Pool B. Their outside Huang Yuexin became the best scorer of the first competition day in Lima with 20 points towards this successful start.
Huang Yuexin on the serve
Then Türkiye were also quite emphatic on their way to a 3-0 (25-18, 25-16, 25-14) shutout of Ecuador with outside hitter and captain Ceylin Kuyan leading the match scorers with 12 points.
The titanic duel between Türkiye and China is scheduled at 14:00 (19:00) on the second competition day. Before that, at 11:00 (16:00), Thailand will take on Ecuador.
