Naz Aydemir of Turkey sets against Japan in the World Grand Prix. The Turkish face Brazil, Kazakhstan and Germany this weekend | Lausanne, June 26, 2008 - China and Italy are the only two unbeaten teams left in the 2008 FIVB World Grand Prix and one of those 100 percent records will definitely fall on the second weekend of action as the two teams face each other in Hong Kong.
Japan and Cuba are the other two teams that make up a very strong Group F in Hong Kong this weekend. Both have 2-1 win-loss records and so the Chinese and Italians, who each swept their three matches last weekend, have their work cut out in trying to preserve their unbeaten starts in FIVB's premier annual Women's competition. Italy did, however, beat Cuba in straight sets last weekend at home in Alassio.
In Group D, Brazil, Kazahkstan, Turkey and Germany will play each other at Vinh Phuc Hall in Vietnam through Friday to Sunday. Turkey made a storming start to the competition last weekend in Kobe, Japan, and have a 2-1 win-loss record so far, which includes a straight-sets win over Kazakhs. Brazil also have a 2-1 record after falling in an epic five-set match to the Chinese in Ningbo.
In Group E, host Poland, Dominican Republic, Thailand and USA face off against each other at Cetennial Hall in Wroclaw. The Polish had a disastrous start to the competition in Alassio last weekend, losing all three matches including a five-setter against the Dominicans. Thailand are also yet to get off the mark, while USA have a 2-1 record.
"We came here with hope to play much better than we did in Italy," said Poland assitant coach Grzegorz Kosatka, speaking instead of absent Head Coach Marco Bonitta, on Thursday at a press conference in Wroclaw. "This team, which is young and practically brand-new is being tested during the Grand Prix. The team is getting together and I think that we'll perform much better than in Alassio."
Said USA Head Coach "Jenny" Lang Ping: "We're very happy to come to Poland again - Poland qualified to the Olympic Games as the second team. Of course all teams here are well-qualified and this tournament will be tough. We want to use the start in this tournament to improve our teamwork."
Said Dominican Head Coach Marcos Kwiek: "We're coming here after a very tough tournament in Italy. This week we'd like to play much better. We're a very young team and I hope that our girls got some experience from the last matches."
Said Thailand Head Coach Nataphon Srisamutnak: "We're very pleased that we can be a part of this world-class competition. We'll do our best here."
Best Scorer of the competition so far is Turkey's Seda Tokatlioglu with 68 points and she has been supported by Esra Gumus who has fired home 49 points. Japan's Miyuki Takahashi is second-highest scorer with 55 points and Ruirui Zhao of China third with 50 points.
The 2008 edition involves the teams playing a total of 69 matches over four consecutive weekends in 10 cities. The Preliminary Rounds end the weekend of July 4-6, with each team playing nine matches over the first three weekends.
The Final Round in Yokohama will be contested between Japan as organizing country and the best five teams from the Preliminary Rounds in a round-robin format through July 9-13.
Final Round press accreditation applications:
The Final Round is now open for press accreditation applications. Media wishing to cover the climax of the World Grand Prix are requested to contact the Japan Volleyball Association Press Accreditation Section no later than Friday, June 27.
The contact email address is [email protected]
Applicants will be informed by Friday, July 4, on the status of their application. Phone applications are not accepted. Accredited media are asked to bring a printout copy of their "AD Card Permission Form" and their passport to the press information desk at the Final Round venue before the start of competition. | 
