USA, China complete perfect runs to reach Girls’ U17 Round of 16

The United States and China completed perfect preliminary-round campaigns at the FIVB Volleyball Girls’ U17 World Championship on Tuesday, with Poland and Korea also topping their respective pools as the eighthfinals field was finalized in Chile.

The United States capped its Pool A campaign with a 3-0 (25-10, 25-13, 25-17) victory over Czechia, finishing first with 15 points from five wins. The Americans also completed the preliminary round with a 15-0 set record, having conceded 242 points across their five matches.

Kari Knotts led the United States with 16 points, scoring 10 in attack, four from blocks and two from the service line. The Americans held Czechia to 16 attack points while producing 38 of their own and also led 8-2 in blocks and 9-4 in aces.

Türkiye secured second place in the pool with four wins and 12 points after a 3-0 (25-16, 25-15, 25-13) victory over host Chile. Czechia finished third with three wins and nine points, while Thailand took fourth place after closing pool play with a 3-0 (25-15, 25-20, 25-20) win over Egypt.

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Defending champions China closed Pool B at the top of the standings after defeating Peru 3-0 (25-13, 25-15, 25-20), completing five wins from five matches for 15 points. China went through the preliminary round with a 15-0 set record, scoring 375 points while conceding 227.

Zhang Yijia led China with 12 points against Peru, including 11 attacks, while Chen Xinyi added 10 points and Zhao Yuhan nine. China produced 42 attack points to Peru’s 27 and held a 10-3 advantage in blocks and 9-4 in aces.

Venezuela secured second place in the pool with three wins and nine points after defeating the Philippines 3-2 (25-19, 25-16, 22-25, 19-25, 15-11). Peru also finished with three wins, taking third place with eight points, while the Philippines placed fourth with two wins and seven points. Mexico closed its preliminary round with a 3-0 (25-19, 25-17, 27-25) victory over Tunisia to finish fifth.

Poland completed its run through Pool C with a 3-0 (25-13, 25-18, 25-20) victory over Spain, finishing first with five wins and 14 points. The Poles won 15 of their 18 sets in the preliminary round, with their only three set losses coming in a five-set victory over Brazil and a four-set win against Japan.

Zuzanna Lange led Poland against Spain with 16 points, including 11 attacks, three blocks and two aces. Amelia Różańska added 11 points, five of them from the service line, while Maja Przybyłkowicz scored 10. Poland held a 9-5 advantage in blocks and served 14 aces to Spain’s four.

Croatia secured second place with three wins and eight points after defeating Argentina 3-1 (25-19, 25-15, 8-25, 25-22). Erin Ivezić led Croatia with 23 points, while Sofia Emilia Baldo scored 20 for Argentina.

Brazil closed pool play with a 3-1 (25-27, 25-22, 25-21, 25-14) victory over Japan. Japan nevertheless finished third with two wins and seven points, followed by Argentina and Brazil with two wins and six points each, while Spain placed sixth with two wins and four points.

Korea rounded out the pool winners with a 3-0 (25-10, 25-17, 25-18) victory over Algeria, completing Pool D with five wins and a maximum 15 points. Korea finished the preliminary round with a 15-4 set record, having been pushed to four sets in each of its previous four victories.

Jang Suin led Korea against Algeria with 13 points, including eight attacks, two blocks and three aces, while Eo Minseo added 12. Captain Son Seoyeon, who had led the tournament in scoring since the opening day, contributed six points as Korea produced 41 attack points to Algeria’s 19.

Son ended the preliminary round with 97 points, with Dominican Republic captain Rayni Merab Mondesi Arias moving to the top of the scoring chart with 102. Mondesi scored 25 points as the Dominican Republic defeated Puerto Rico 3-1 (25-23, 25-12, 18-25, 25-17) to finish fourth in the pool with two wins and six points.

Italy secured second place with four wins and 11 points after a 3-2 (19-25, 25-21, 22-25, 25-15, 15-12) victory over Chinese Taipei. Hillary Uwadiae led Italy with 24 points, while Chen Ting-Yi scored a match-high 26 for Chinese Taipei, which finished third with two wins and eight points. Puerto Rico placed fifth with two wins and five points, while Algeria finished sixth.

The eighthfinals begin Wednesday, with Croatia facing Czechia and Italy meeting Peru, followed by the United States against Argentina and China against the Dominican Republic. Türkiye will take on Japan, Venezuela will face Chinese Taipei, Poland will meet Thailand, and Korea will play the Philippines.

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