Aguascalientes, Mexico, July 14, 2019 – The preliminary round came to an end at the FIVB Women’s U20 World Championship with Japan, Italy, United States and Brazil as the top four finishers in hosting city Aguascalientes, Mexico.
Japan along with Italy topped pool A and D respectively and move into the next stage undefeated. Pool A and D runners-up United States and Brazil also remain to battle among the final eight competing in host city Aguascalientes.
Heading into placing matches to be staged in Leon, Guanajuato are Cuba, Dominican Republic, host Mexico and Rwanda.
Pool A
After a rough start and using all their players, Italy overcame host Mexico 3-0 (26-24, 25-21, 25-15) with their dominant 9-1 serving advantage and 43-35 attacking margin. Italy kept to their intentions of reaching the podium as pool A top finishers. Scoring from the middle, Marina Lubian and on the side line, Ruth Enweonwu led Italy’s offense with 11 points apiece. Mexico’s captain Uxue Guereca scored 10 points, all from attacks.
NORCECA champion United States claimed their second win in a row defeating Cuba 3-0 (25-20, 25-23, 25-20) to finish the preliminary round with two-one winning record. United States blocked Cuba’s attackers by a 13-5 advantage. Logan Eggleston led United States with 10 points, and Jenna Wenaas with Molly Phillips contributed with 8 points each. Cuban Ailama Cese with 11 points was the highest scorer of the match.
Pool D
Asian champion Japan moved into the final eight phase as pool D top finishers after controlling Dominican Republic 3-0 (25-15, 25-21, 25-23). Seven from a total of thirteen blocking points came from Japan’s leading attacker middle blocker Yamada Nichika who scored 14 points, followed by Miyabe Ameze with 10 points. On the Caribbean side, three players scored double digits Flormarie Heredia (13), Natalia Martinez (12) and Madeline Guillen (12) and will continue their World Championship journey in placing matches.
Brazil concluded the preliminary round as pool D runners-up while defeating Rwanda 3-0 (25-8, 25-9, 25-13). Using their entire roster, the South American champions had no complications improving their winning record by 2-1 topping Rwanda with sizeable stats in every skill of the game, attacks (25-12), blocks (16-2) and serving points (10-0). Rwanda finished last in pool D and head to Leon for placing matches. Brazilian Kisy Nascimento led all scorers with 11 points.