WGP: Brazil and Bulgaria extends the winning streak

Brazil and Bulgaria successfully launched the second World Grand Prix weekend. The hosts, Puerto Rico, did not coped with Bulgaria that is doing well this season. Brazil still remains unbeaten after four sets win over Dominican Republic.

 

 

 Dominican Rep. – Brazil 1 – 3 (25-20, 22-25, 12-25, 18-25)

Dominican Republic: Echenique 1, Rivera 7, Vargas 2, De La Cruz 25, Rodriguez 6, Fersola 8, Castillo (L) and Marte, Arias 2, Pena 1, Mambru 3, Binet
Brazil: Dani Lins 1, Gabi 25, Fabiana 13, Monique 1, Fe Garay 20, Juciely 8, Brait (L) and Silva, Michelle, Sheilla 8

Dominican Republic started the first set very aggressive until Brazil’s head coach, Jose Roberto Guimarães, call an urgent time out at (8-12) after a consecutive great serve from Dominican Republic player, Priscilla Rivera. The lead of the Caribbean team continued through the second technical time out with an advantage of six points (10-16) after an attack of young player Jeoselyna Rodriguez. After the second time out, Brazil return to level up the set to a (17-19).The winning point for Dominican Republic came with a failed serve made by Brazil’s Michelle Pavão to end with (20-25).

Brazil’s team began the second set with a different game strategy emphasizing on the defensive line. A Block of Gabriela Guimarães (Gabi) tied up the game at point 12. “Gabi” herself helped scoring the next points throughout the second technical time out that favored her team with a one point lead (16-15). Marianne Fersola of Dominican Republic spiked to tie up the game at point 17 following a great battle in the net of both teams. The set was finished in favor of Brazil (25-22) by an out kill of Annerys Vargas of the Dominican Republic.

The inconsistence of the Dominican Republic team helped Brazil scoring an outstanding lead of 11 points for the second technical time out that presented a (16-5) advantage. This continued to end up the third set at (25-12) with an error of Yonkaira Pena of Dominican Republic that gave Brazil the lead of 2 sets to 1.

Team Stats:

ActionsSpike pointsSpike %BlockServeDigReceptionSets noteUnforced ErrorsDominican Rep.4427%867727%319Brazil6139%967343%6.7519

 

Team Leaders:

Actions/PlayersPointsSpike pointsSpike %Spike errorsBlockServeUnforced ErrorsBethania De La Cruz252036%8238Gabriela Gimaraes ‘Gabi’252044%2322

 

 

Puerto Rico – Bulgaria 0 – 3 (21-25, 20-25, 10-25)

Puerto Rico: Valentin 3, K. Ocasio 11, S. Ocasio 3, Rosa 5, Ruiz 2, Morales 5, Venegas (L) and Nogueras 1, Jimenez 1, Quesada, Reyes 1
Bulgaria: Kitipova 3, Vasileva 12, Ruseva 3, E. Nikolova 8, Rabadzhieva 12, S. Filipova 13, M. Filipova (L) and Zarkova 2, D. Nikolova, Nenova 1, Karakasheva 1, Koleva

World Grand Prix debutants Bulgaria raised their record to 3-1 while Puerto Rico lost their fourth straight match.
Click Here: PuttersBulgaria had an 11-4 advantage in blocking and 4-1 in serving. Bulgaria scored 40 points on kills from 75 attempts while Puerto Rico could only manage 27 from 80 attempts.

In the first set, the two teams exchanged the lead early on but at the end of the set good work by Vasileva and Rabadzhieva gave Bulgaria the advantage they needed to take a 1-0 lead.

The second set started as the first one had with great defence and offence from both teams. Puerto Rico took an 8-6 advantage at the first technical timeout with an amazing block by setter Natalia Valentín. Bulgaria came back with good spikes to tie the set at 15-15 and an error by Ocasio put them ahead 16-15 at the second break. Tsvetelina Zarkova ended the second set with a great kill.

The third set was an easy ride for Bulgaria who dominated Puerto Rico with effective spikes as they zipped through the set 25-10.

Strashimira Filipova was the top scorer in the match with 13 points, while her teammates Elitsa Vasileva and Dobriana Rabadzhieva both scored 12. Karina Ocasio was the top scorer for Puerto Rico with 11 points.

Team Stats:

ActionsSpike pointsSpike %BlockServeDigReceptionSets noteUnforced ErrorsPuerto Rico2733%411131%3.6720Bulgaria4053%1141448%4.6719

 

Team Leaders:

Actions/PlayersPointsSpike pointsSpike %Spike errorsBlockServeUnforced ErrorsKarina Ocasio11931%6207Elitsa Vasilieva121052%3114

 

Descriptions: FIVB