Germany's Esther Spoler hit a smash past China's defence at the net
Lima, Peru, August 10, 2015 – Germany took sole possession of Pool B with a 3-1 (19-25, 25-21, 25-23, 25-22) victory over China in a match between undefeated teams at FIVB Volleyball Girls’ U18 World Championship on Monday at Eduardo Dibos Coliseum of Lima.
The German side improved to a 3-0 win-loss record while defending champions China dropped to 2-1.
Germany got the edge in spikes 45-43 and held a 15-10 advantage in blocks. Both teams scored with 9 aces and the winners made 27 errors to 25 by the losers.
Hanna Orthmann led Germany with 18 points and had the offensive support of SIndy lenz and Esther Spoler who each contributed 14 points in the victory.
Li Yingying had a match-high 25 points in the losing effort, followed by Wu Han and Qian Jingwen with 16 and 14, respectively.
At 18-all in the first set, China used its blocking skills to put away the first set 25-19 with a successful run of Wu Han from the service line.
In the second, Germany led 16-10 but China tied at 18-18 behind Li Yinying explosive attacks. Orthmann answered back with a spike and two consecutive aces by Lenz put Germany on the driver’s seat. The Europeans took it 25-21.
The two sides played evenly during the third set. With the score tied at 23-all, Wu’s attack sailed long and then Orthmann blocked the spike from Wu for the 25-23 score.
Germany led by three points at both technical time outs of the fourth set. The difference expanded to five points with two aces by Spoler around a spike of Lenz. The set finished 25-22 with Agbortabi’s spike from the left side.