China triumphed as the first ever U17 volleyball world champions. In Saturday’s final of the inaugural FIVB Volleyball Girls’ U17 World Championship in Lima, they snatched the historic trophy by shutting out Asian archrivals Japan, thus completing a victorious run of seven wins in seven matches with only a set lost along the way. Italy also made the podium as bronze medallists.
FIVB Volleyball Girls' U17 World Championship
China complete super sweep to claim inaugural U17 crown
Recap of Girls’ U17 World Championship last competition day
Published 03:56, 25 Aug 2024
China celebrate as inaugural U17 world champions
- Watch FIVB Volleyball Girls’ U17 World Championship replays on VBTV
Captain Yang Shuming powers China to emphatic win of gold medal showdown
China’s opposite and captain Yang Shuming was on fire in Saturday’s gold medal showdown in front of nearly 5,700 fans at the Coliseo Eduardo Dibos in the Peruvian capital. She led her teammates to a convincing 3-0 (25-19, 25-22, 25-18) victory over Japan to claim the crown of the first U17 champs in history. China outplayed their opponents in attack, in serving and especially in blocking with nine stuffs against just one. Yang herself produced a 24-point match high, including three aces and a kill block. Outside hitters Huang Yuexin and Sun Hongyun also reached the double digits with 11 and 10 points, respectively. Opposite Hikari Kudo was Japan’s most prolific player with 21 points.
The FIVB Volleyball Girls’ U17 World Championship podium
“It was a tough match!” Yang Shuming told the FIVB. "We've watched the previous videos from Japan and we've analyzed them for a long time. I am very excited because it's the first world championship!”
“We are very excited! We are very proud of our players. We decided to go game by game to achieve the main objective. We were always convinced that we could win. I hope these players can reach a higher level and make it to the women’s national team.” Yong Zhao, head coach of China
“I can't say how hard the match was, but we did everything we could and I am happy to have made it this far. We won second place, but I am happy that almost the entire stadium cheered us on and that was a very good experience. I love volleyball, I want to keep playing and connect with everyone through volleyball,” said Japan’s libero and captain Kokoro Semba.
Italian blocking leads team to World Championship bronze
Italy once again relied heavily on their tremendous blocking effort to come back from a set down in the third place match against Chinese Taipei and celebrate a 3-1 (19-25, 25-17, 25-20, 25-22) win. The European side tallied as many as 13 kill blocks in the game, against only four for their opponents. They also scored more serving aces than Chinese Taipei, 5-3, while the Asian squad was a bit more prolific in attack with 55 spike kills against 51. Italy’s outside hitter and captain Ludovica Tosini was the best scorer of the match with 23 points. Opposite Rebecca Aimaretti led the blockers with four stuffs to her name. Outsides Chen Yi and captain Chen Pin-Yu led Chinese Taipei with 15 points each.
The Italian players celebrate during the bronze medal match against Chinese Taipei
“We have been preparing since the beginning of June and we are super happy to have been able to reach this podium,” captain Tosini commented. “The preparation has been difficult, but we have achieved it. This rival was difficult, because they are super fast, and always with a smile on the court. This is what was missing for us yesterday - we didn’t have fun while we were playing, but today we had fun, we had a good time. All the rivals we have had have been super tough, but we have managed to beat them and we know we deserve it, so we are super happy. Since I was six years old, my dream has been to make it to the senior team and play at the Olympics.”
Exciting classification matches finalize standings all the way down to 16th place
Brazil defeated hosts Peru by 3-1 (25-13, 25-20, 24-26, 25-7) in the fifth place match with the help of 16 kill blocks. Opposite Heloisa De Andrade Benvindo Silva led the way with a match-high 17 points.
Brazil ready for another block against Peru
Türkiye outplayed Mexico for the seventh place. Their outsides Damla Beyazitli and captain Ceyda Kuyan shared the top scorer honours with 22 points each towards a 3-1 (25-17, 25-19, 22-25, 25-15) victory.
14-year-old opposite Decelise Champion powered Puerto Rico to a 3-0 (26-24, 25-14, 25-21) sweep of the ninth place game against Argentina. The rising star hammered out 25 points, including three aces and two kill blocks.
Thailand finished 11th in the final standings, following a 3-0 (25-21, 25-17, 25-17) shutout of Croatia. Their opposite Treethip Wiboon led the team with 15 points, while Croatia’s outside Franka Golemac topped the match charts with 16.
The 13th place proved tough to get as Canada and Egypt fought over it for five sets before the North Americans could celebrate a 3-2 (25-19, 27-25, 25-27, 20-25, 15-13) victory in the highest scoring match of the whole tournament. Canada’s middle Dara Obeid and opposite Ana Stojanovic, as well as Egypt’s outside and captain Nour Awad Elsafy, scored 21 points apiece.
The Dominican Republic finished the tournament the same way they started it, with a win. They took the 15th place in the final standings after a 3-0 (25-17, 25-18, 25-20) shutout of Ecuador. Outside Yamil Moya led the way with 15 points.
Top individual scoring performances
28 points - Justina Fortes (Argentina) v Thailand on August 23
27 points - Huang Yuexin (China) v Türkiye on August 18
26 points - Justina Fortes (Argentina) v Peru on August 20
25 points - Decelise Champion (Puerto Rico) v Argentina on August 24
24 points - Ariana Vasquez (Peru) v Dominican Republic on August 19
24 points - Yang Shuming (China) v Japan on August 24
Top individual blocking performances
9 kill blocks - Alessia Manda (Italy) v Mexico on August 17
7 kill blocks - Brenda Esquivel (Mexico) v Italy on August 17
6 kill blocks - Heloisa De Andrade Benvindo Silva (Brazil) v Peru on August 17
6 kill blocks - Sara Lulic (Croatia) v Chinese Taipei on August 18
6 kill blocks - Gianella Chanca (Peru) v Dominican Republic on August 19
6 kill blocks - Sara Mori (Italy) v Japan on August 23
6 kill blocks - Mariana Gaviolle Medeiros (Brazil) v Mexico on August 23
Top individual serving performances
8 aces - Zhang Zixuan (China) v Mexico on August 22
7 aces - Panthita Khongnok (Thailand) v Egypt on August 22
6 aces - Helena Cugno (Argentina) v Egypt on August 17
6 aces - Estel Santos (Dominican Republic) v Canada on August 17
6 aces - Ariana Vasquez (Peru) v Dominican Republic on August 19
6 aces - Kaho Yoritomi (Japan) v Ecuador on August 20
Top team blocking performances
22 kill blocks - Italy v Mexico on August 17
17 kill blocks - Brazil v Peru on August 17
16 kill blocks - Italy v Türkiye on August 22
16 kill blocks - Brazil v Peru on August 24
15 kill blocks - Argentina v Mexico on August 18
15 kill blocks - Puerto Rico v Chinese Taipei on August 19
15 kill blocks - Italy v Japan on August 23
15 kill blocks - Brazil v Mexico on August 23
15 kill blocks - Canada v Egypt on August 24
Top team serving performances
18 aces - Canada v Dominican Republic on August 23
15 aces - Mexico v Egypt on August 19
15 aces - China v Croatia on August 20
15 aces - Chinese Taipei v Brazil on August 22
14 aces - Croatia v Japan on August 19
14 aces - Thailand v Egypt on August 22
Highest scoring matches
221 points - Canada v Egypt 3-2 (25-19, 27-25, 25-27, 20-25, 15-13) on August 24
209 points - Peru v Argentina 3-2 (21-25, 25-19, 25-20, 21-25, 15-13) on August 20
198 points - Mexico v Brazil 2-3 (25-20, 12-25, 26-24, 17-25, 9-15) on August 23
194 points - Italy v Mexico 3-2 (19-25, 17-25, 25-14, 25-19, 15-10) on August 17
188 points - Thailand v Argentina 2-3 (25-15, 22-25, 25-11, 16-25, 9-15) on August 23
Longest matches (combined set durations)
127 minutes - Peru v Argentina on August 20
111 minutes - Peru v Dominican Republic on August 19
111 minutes - Canada v Egypt on August 24
110 minutes - Mexico v Brazil on August 23
104 minutes - Türkiye v China on August 18
Highest set scores
28-30 - Peru v Dominican Republic third set on August 19
30-28 - Puerto Rico v Croatia on August 23
26-28 - Türkiye v China third set on August 18
27-25 - Türkiye v Thailand second set on August 19
27-25 - Canada v Egypt second set on August 24
25-27 - Canada v Egypt third set on August 24
Longest sets
34 minutes - Argentina v Egypt first set on August 17
33 minutes - Egypt v Mexico first set on August 19
33 minutes - Peru v Dominican Republic third set on August 19
33 minutes - Puerto Rico v Croatia second set on August 23
31 minutes - Türkiye v China third set on August 18
