Russia Beats China to Take 3rd Place at Women's Volleyball Worlds

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Sunday, September 15, 2002

Russia Beats China to Take 3rd Place at Women's Volleyball Worlds

Five-time world champions Russia outplayed two-time winners China 3-0 to take the third place at the 2002 women's volleyball world championships Saturday in Berlin.

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Five-time world champions Russia outplayed two-time winners China 3-0 to take the third place at the 2002 women's volleyball world championships Saturday in Berlin.

This was the fourth time for the European side to rank third in world championships, after their bronze-medal performance in 1978 (playing as the former Soviet Union) and in 1994 and at last championships four years ago in Japan. The former Soviet Union won the world title in 1952, 1956, 1960, 1970 and 1990.

The Asian team won the championships twice, in 1982 and 1986.

The first set began with a cautious game when the two sides tied for four times before the Russians going ahead. A twisted left ankle of Libero Li Ying obviously hampered the Chinese team'sdefense. Russian spikers Evguenia Artamonova and Ekaterina Gamovascored time and again to help their side take the set 25-20.

The beginning of the second set saw an almost similar game, butChina succeeded to go ahead from a second draw, 6-6, and kept leading their opponents by scoring through varied attacks by star players Yang Hao, Zhou Suhong and Zhao Ruirui. The Chinese won the set 25-21 to level at one set for one.

Russia led the early stage of the third set, only to see the Chinese catching up. The Chinese followed suit later. The scoresleveled several times before China going to the front, 18-15. Butthe lead failed to last long as Russia spikers leapt high to launch killer smashes, leveling at 18-18 up to 22-22. The Russians earned two points in a row to lead 24-22 for their set point. China fought back to make it one point behind, which was however not enough to stop Russia from taking the set 25-23.

With two sets to their credit, the Russians went into the four determined to seal the match in their favor, leading 8-4 at the first technical time-out. But China refused to give up easily, although Russians' killer serves caused reception problems on the Asian side.

Russians were obviously the better side in attacking, and, thanks to efforts by Artamonova and Gamova, they came to a 16-8 lead when play came to a break at the second technical time-out. The steady Europeans managed to approach to their match point at 24-12. China in return killed four match balls in a row. But a serving error cost them the chance to go any further while Russia won the set 25-16 and sealed the match three sets to one.

Earlier on Saturday, Brazil beat Bulgaria in straight set to win the seventh place.

The final between the United States and Italy is scheduled for Sunday, 1500 hours CET in Berlin.

On the same day, Cuba and South Korea will play off for the fifth position.

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