Japan revenge on Dominican Republic 3-2 for semis
(Agencies)
Updated: 2005-06-01 19:55

Japan rallied from 2- 1 down to revenge on Dominican Republic 25-22, 19-25, 19-25, 25-14, 15-8 in its last preliminary Group A match and advance to the semi- finals of the PetroChina KunLun Cup China International Women's Volleyball Tournament on Wednesday.

The Dominican team ruled out Japan's berth to the semi-finals of last week's Shenzhou Cup at Beilun, Southeast China, as they held off Japan in full five sets after squandering a 2-0 lead.

In the tie breaker on Wednesday, the Japanese women pull away from a 5-5 tie for a 12-5 lead and went on to hold seven match points on 14-7 after Makiko Horai punched the ball.

Brens Prisilla Rivera spiked to give Dominican Republic the last breath on 14-8, and Kaoru Sugayama killed the match points to seal the hard-fought victory for Japan.

With its famed tireless digging and blitz offense, the Japaneseside eased to a 25-22 first set win with all its starters kept staying on the court before leading 20-16.

In the second set, Poland seemed getting used to the rhythm of the Japanese team and made good use of their advantage in height. The Polish side ran off seven points in a row from 12-15 down to overtake 19-15, and continued to run 6-3 for 25-19 to level one set back.

Poland, 10th-placed at world women's volleyball rankings, started the third set with a 5-2 lead and never looked back. They scored four out of the last five points to close the set 25-19, including three aces by Tomsia.

The former European champion, however, came out too anxious to win in the fourth, allowing the Japanese easily wrap up the set 25- 14 and force the tie breaker.

With two victories out of three preliminary matches, Japan finished the second in Group A, although a very last group match between Olympic champion China and Poland, who lost to Japn 3-0 on Tuesday, has yet to start till Wednesday evening.

Earlier on Wednesday afternoon, Cuba secured a top finish in three-member Group B as the Olympic bronze medalist beat Bulgaria in straight sets. The Cuban side, winning both of their preliminary matches, will meet Japan in the semi-finals, while the Dutch team, who earned the other ticket to the semis with a victory on Tuesday over winless Bulgaria, will take the host China.

Dominican Republic, who was beaten in all of its gourp matches,will go to the 5th-7th deciders against Bulgaria before entering the fifth-place match to face Poland.

Close

Suns stop Spurs IOC inspects construction sites in Beijing David Beckham to join England's squad in game against Colombia

Today's Top News     Top Sports News
China may use foreign exchange reserves to buy oil         China: UN Council resolution dangerous         Mines to appoint veterans as Guardian Angels         Bush: US sees China as economic opportunity         Identity of 'Deep Throat' source confirmed         Mainland to select giant pandas for Taiwan	IOC: Beijing '08 preparations on track       China women's volleyball team claim 2nd straight win       Federer aims to win physical battle with Nadal       Owen's hat trick lifts England over Colombia       Pistons' Brown denies accepting post with NBA rival       Nastase, McEnroe face off on the court