Lima and Callao, Peru, August 15, 2015 – The United States will square off against Italy on Sunday night at Eduardo Dibos Coliseum of Lima in the battle for the gold medal at the FIVB Volleyball Girls’ U18 World Championship.
USA, runner-ups when the event took place in Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand two years ago, reached the final match for the second edition in a row following a 3-1 (25-18, 25-13, 27-29, 25-18) victory over reigning champions China on Saturday.
Meanwhile, Italy advanced to the title match of the 20-team competition also with a 3-1 (23-25, 25-23, 25-18, 25-14) win over Turkey.
Neither of the two teams has ever been crowned at the age-group world championship held every two years by the FIVB.
Italy finished second in Pila, Poland in 2003 and was third three other times – Orleans, France (1995), Chiang Mai, Thailand (1997) and Macau, China (2005).
Besides the silver medal attained two years ago, the closest USA had been to a podium position was with fourth-place finishes in Pila and Macau.
In the other matches of Saturday:
Germany edged Russia in a thrilling seesaw five-setter 3-2 (25-17, 20-25, 25-17, 14-25, 15-13) and will play for fifth place against Serbia, winners also in five sets 3-2 (20-25, 21-25, 25-8, 25-21, 19-17) over Poland. The losers will play for positions 7-8.
Argentina outdueled Belgium 3-2 (22-25, 25-18, 25-27, 25-21, 15-11) and will meet Japan winners 3-1 (21-25, 25-21, 25-23, 25-18) against Brazil for the ninth place. The losers will contest for positions 11-12.
Egypt defeated Mexico 3-1 (25-20, 17-25, 25-21, 25-23) and Korea defeated Peru 3-0 (25-23, 25-23, 25-15) and the winners will compete for the 13-14 positions and the losers for the 15-16.
Finally, Dominican Republic swept Thailand 3-0 (25-21, 25-12, 25-18) in the match for the 17th position and Chinese Taipei outplayed Cuba 3-1 (25-20, 25-14, 15-25, 33-31) in the match for the 19th position.
Top Scorer by Day
25- Marian Morsy of Egypt v Peru on August 7
24-Katarina Lazovic of Serbia v China on August 8
25- Katherine Regalado of Peru v Korea on August 9
25- Li Yingying of China v Germany on August 10
25- Ai Kurogo of Japan v Turkey on August 10
24- Li Yingying of China v Poland on August 11
24- Paola Egonu of Italy v Japan on August 11
32- Massiel Matos of Dominican Republic v Cuba on August 13
28- Paola Egonu of Italy v Serbia on August 14
30- Katarina Lazovic of Serbia v Poland on August 15
Top Scoring Performances
32- Massiel Matos of Dominican Republic v Cuba on August 13
30- Katarina Lazovic of Serbia v Poland on August 15
28- Paola Egonu of Italy v Serbia on August 14
28- Li Yingying of China v United States on August 15
27- Juangjan Kanittha of Thailand v Chinese Taipei on August 13
Top Individual Serving Performances
7- Pia Kastner of Germany v Serbia on August 11
6-Ai Kurogo of Japan v Brazil on August 8
6- Angelina Lazarenko of Russia v Dominican Republic on August 11
5- Anastasija Sekulic of Serbia v Germany on August 11
5- Karla Mireles of Mexico v Egypt on August 11
5-Gabriela Perez of Mexico v Brazil on August 14
Top Team Serving Performances
15- Germany v Serbia on August 11
14- Korea v Mexico on August 7
14- Chinese Taipei v Cuba on August 15
12- Turkey v Cuba on August 8
12- Korea v Chinese Taipei on August 8
12- Russia v Dominican Republic on August 11
12- Egypt v Mexico on August 11
12- Mexico v Egypt on August 11
12- United States v Germany on August 14
Top Individual Blocking Performances
10- Diana de la Peña of Peru v Korea on August 9
8- Huang Chen Yu of Chinese Taipei v Thailand on August 13
8- Angelina Lazarenko of Russia v Japan on August 13
7- Karina Flores of Mexico v Korea on August 7
7- Katherine Regalado of Peru v Korea on August 9
7- Nourallah Amin of Egypt v Mexico on August 11
7- Diana Duarte of Brazil v Mexico on August 14
7- Giulia Mancini of Italy v Turkey on August 15
7- Jovana Kocic of Serbia v Poland on August 15
Top Team Blocking Performances
25- Poland v Thailand on August 8
23- Russia v Japan on August 13
19- Peru v Korea on August 9
18- Serbia v Poland on August 7
17- Peru v Mexico on August 8
17- China v Thailand on August 9
Highest Scoring Sets
35-33 Italy v Japan (3rd Set) on August 11
33-31 Brazil v Japan (2nd Set) on August 8
33-31 Chinese Taipei v Cuba (4th Set) on August 15
30-28 China v Poland on August 11
29-27 Japan v Cuba (1st Set) on August 7
29-27 Belgium v Argentina (1st Set) on August 8
29-27 China v United States (3rd Set) on August 15
Highest Scoring Matches
228- Egypt d Mexico 3-2 (28-26, 24-26, 17-25, 26-24, 17-15) on August 11
214- Argentina d Belgium 3-2 (22-25, 25-18, 25-27, 25-21, 15-11) on August 15
210- Poland d Thailand 3-2 (25-21, 26-28, 25-10, 22-25, 15-13) on August 8
207- Korea d Peru 3-2 (14-25, 25-22, 19-25, 25-22, 16-14) on August 9
206- Russia d United States 3-2 (19-25, 25-20, 19-25, 25-23, 15-10) on August 10
206- Serbia d Poland 3-2 (20-25, 21-25, 25-8, 25-21, 19-17) on August 15