China Beats Bulgaria in Second Round at Women's Volleyball Worlds

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Saturday, September 07, 2002

China Beats Bulgaria in Second Round at Women's Volleyball Worlds

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China, favored by a FIVB press writer as "the brightest lights in Pool F" going into the second round, beating Bulgaria in straight set at the 2002 women's volleyball world championships, in Stuttgart, Germany, on Friday.

China, two times world champions and runners-up in this year's World Grand Prix, are undoubtedly one of the favorites, despite ofa 3-0 defeat to upstarts Greece in their final Group D match.

With two times fourth place as their best ever performance at any world-class tournament and number three at last year's European championships, Bulgaria is the outsider of the pool. They slipped into second position in Group A in the first round, largely because of a victory over hosts Germany. They did howevergo down to Japan and Italy and it will be interesting to see how they shape up against the Asian giants China and South Korea.

The first set saw the scores tied for a surprising sum of 15 times before the Chinese pulled away from the 18-18 tie to a 22-19lead, at the second time-out called by the Bulgarian coach. The Chinese went on to take the set 25-22.

China came back strong in the second set with improved blocking,powering their way through to win the set 25-15 with power smashesand drops.

China led early in the third set but the Bulgarians soon leveled it at 4-4. The Chinese got off from their opponents with superior blocking and fast attacks. Even successful smashes by left-handed Bulgarian spiker Antonina Zetova couldn't prevent the Chinese advance to a 25-19 win of the set and the match.

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