Brazil spikers notch second GP victory

Brazil spikers notch second GP victory

JAKARTA (JP): Brazil reversed its 1-11 second-set deficit to
nail a straight-set 15-9, 15-13, 15-7 victory over a rising
Netherlands at the Women's World Volleyball Grand Prix here
yesterday.

It was the second win for Brazil, which on Friday downed the
world best defensive team, South Korea, also in straight sets 17-
16, 16-14, 15-7.

In the other match yesterday, the United States' 3-2 win over
South Korea saved its weakening reputation and delighted its
Indonesian supporters, who packed the Senayan Indoor Stadium,
shouting "USA! USA!"

The five-set 10-15, 9-15, 15-12, 15-11, 15-12 win seemed to
restore the defending champion's self-confidence, which had been
shaken after its 3-2 loss to the Netherlands on Friday.

In the other first leg in Sendai, Japan, China notched its
second straight victory yesterday by edging host Japan 3-2, while
Cuba downed Russia 3-1. On Friday, China whipped Olympic gold
medalist Cuba 3-0 and Russia defeated Japan 3-1.

For Brazil, that particular second set worked like a miracle.
After a close first set, which saw the remarkable killing serves
of the Netherlands' Elles Leferink, Brazil entered the second set
as if a ship in the doldrums.

The butchering duet of the Netherlands' Leferink and Riette
Fledderus looked unstoppable as they brilliantly and easily
reduced Brazil into an obedient receiver. The Netherlands soon
raced to a commanding 11-1 lead, silencing the horrendous
Brazilian fans, who won support from their Indonesian
counterparts.

But things became completely different when Brazil's Virna
Dias and Leila Barros stepped into the scene. Dias served with
confidence and retrieved with great anticipation while the
beautiful Barros was clever at spotting the Dutchwomen's
unguarded field. Brazil's other girls, such as Hilma Caldeira and
Ana Connely, also contributed their own shares.

Now points rose rapidly for Brazil. The Netherlands' duo of
Leferink and Fledderus, however, seemed to lose steam, and this
made it easier for a more solid Brazilian teamwork to disarray
them.

"We made too many mistakes. We didn't know what to do," said
Dutch head coach Bert Goedkoop after the match. Brazil's head
coach Bernardo Rezende, on the other hand, said that the secret
of winning the second set was that "We just held on. We just kept
playing. We won because we were more experienced."

Today is the Jakarta leg's last day. Unbeaten Brazil will take
on the U.S., while South Korea will face the Netherlands.

Meanwhile, in Sendai, Olympic silver medalist China had to
face a vociferous crowd for their 10-15, 15-12, 15-10, 9-15, 15-
11 victory.

In the second match at the Sendai municipal gymnasium, Cuba
came from behind to beat Russia 5-15, 15-11, 15-10, 15-12. (arf)