| Unbeaten Brazil defeat Puerto Rico in Hamamatsu | |
Hamamatsu, Japan, November 2, 2010 – Brazil defeated Puerto Rico in straight sets (25-20, 25-18, 25-20) to remain unbeaten in four matches in the first round of Pool B at the 2010 FIVB Women’s World Championship at Hamamatsu Arena in Japan on Tuesday. Brazil won their fourth straight by dominating the latter parts of the first two sets, with strong serving by Thaisa in particular. Their spikes and tips from the left-wing found weaknesses in the Puerto Rican rotation, and Puerto Rico, now 1-3, made too many unforced errors to pull off an upset. FIVB Women's World Championship Japan 2010 official page The second set seemed to mirror the first, with unforced errors and tied scores to 7-all. Puerto Rico was trying everything it could, including playing a ball on the Brazilian side out of bounds. After three straight Brazil points, Puerto Rico called time out at 10-7. Brazil again attacked through the left-wing, but this time with tips dropping over the wall of blockers to go up 13-8 and 16-9. Thaisa’s service winners made it 18-9, and after another great dig by Fabi, Brazil won the set 25-18. Cheered by hundreds of school children in yellow hats, Brazil cruised to early third set leads of 6-3 and 9-4. The long reach of Fabiana stopped a number of Puerto Rican spikes, and forced others to go wide, as Brazil led 14-9 and 18-12. Brazil dominated the net en route to a 25-20 win. Brazil will vie to win Pool B when they face Italy on Wednesday, while Puerto Rico will hope to beat the Netherlands for a chance to qualify for the second round. |
