Breathtaking close of pool play turns tables across Women's U23 Worlds

Ljubljana, Slovenia, September 15, 2017 - It was an astonishing day in the Slovenian capital as pool play wound down to produce some shocking results and major upsets across both pools, with all three participating European sides Slovenia, Bulgaria and Turkey advancing to the semifinals where they are joined by the Dominican Republic at the 2017 FIVB Volleyball Women's U23 World Championship, setting up Saturday's matches as follows:

Positions 5-8 (Hala Tivoli):
15.30 China v Cuba
18.30 Brazil v Thailand

Semifinals (Arena Stozice):
15.30 Turkey v Dominican Republic
18.30 Slovenia v Bulgaria

All times local (GMT+2)



The Dominican Republic took three sets from Thailand to secure their ticket for the semifinals from Pool A, but then lost the game in seven allowing the Asian side to leapfrog over Egypt for a spot in the positions 5-8 group.

At an individual level, Thailand's Thanacha Sooksod registered a tournament high of 32 points, which is also a competition record regardless of the scoring system used. She is only the third player to break the 30-point mark in the history of the Women's U23 World Championship, after 31 points by Italy's Valentina Diouf in 2013 against Japan and 30 by Egypt's Aya Elshamy on the opening day this year against the Dominican Republic.


Thailand's Thanacha Sooksod strikes past the block of the Dominican Republic's Madeline Guillen to score one of her all-time record-breaking 32 points.

Egypt gave it their best against the home side who had already qualified a day earlier, but plagued by fatigue and injuries could do no more than take a set before bowing out of the competition after that Thai win.

Earlier in the day in Pool A China had edged Argentina in six, but the Dominican team's win later on left the Asians out of the semifinals.

In Pool B, meanwhile, Bulgaria failed to follow up on their previous day's sensational sweep of Brazil and lost in five to Turkey. The Bulgarian delegation returned to the hotel convinced that they'd be playing 5-8.

But then, Cuba caused the biggest sensation of all, downing Brazil in five to secure their own place in the 5-8 group while knockng the defending champions out of the medals round and letting Bulgaria back in.

Earlier in the day Japan had done their duty by shutting out Kenya in four, but eventually joined the Africans in going home, after Cuba's win over Brazil.



All matches in Ljubljana are played under a new scoring system currently being tested: a best-of-seven, 15-point set format.





Both semifinals, as well as Sunday's medal matches will be broadcast live on the FIVB YouTube Channel.





Summary Statistics - 2017 FIVB Volleyball Women's U23 World Championship

Highest Scorer by Day
30 – Aya Elshamy of Egypt v Dominican Republic on 10 September
22 – Aya Elshamy of Egypt v China on 11 September
22 – Madeline Guillen of Dominican Republic on 12 September
22 – Daniela Bulaich of Argentina v Dominican Republic on 12 September
24 – Sol Piccolo of Argentina v Egypt on 14 September
32 – Thanacha Sooksod of Thailand v Dominican Republic on 15 September

Top Scoring Performances
32 – Thanacha Sooksod of Thailand v Dominican Republic on 15 September
30 – Aya Elshamy of Egypt v Dominican Republic on 10 September
24 – Gaila Lopez of Dominican Republic v Egypt on 10 September
24 – Sol Piccolo of Argentina v Egypt on 14 September
23 – Heidy Casanova of Cuba v Brazil on 15 September
22 – Aya Elshamy of Egypt v China on 11 September
22 – Madeline Guillen of Dominican Republic on 12 September
22 – Daniela Bulaich of Argentina v Dominican Republic on 12 September

Top Individual Blocking Performances
8 – Mayany Souza of Brazil v Japan on 12 September
6 – Sasa Planinsec of Slovenia v Dominican Republic on 11 September
6 – Beyza Arici of Turkey v Japan on 14 September
6 – Asli Kalac of Turkey v Japan on 14 September
6 – Jineiry Martinez of Dominican Republic v Thailand on 15 September
5 – Mayany Souza of Brazil v Turkey on 11 September
5 – Gaila Gonzalez of Dominican Republic v Thailand on 15 September

Top Team Blocking Performances
19 – Turkey v Japan on 14 September
18 – Brazil v Japan on 12 September
18 – Dominican Republic v Thailand on 15 September
16 – Argentina v Dominican Republic on 12 September
14 – Cuba v Bulgaria on 12 September
12 – Argentina v Egypt on 14 September

Top Individual Serving Performances
5 – Aya Ahmed of Egypt v China on 11 September
5 – Aya Ahmed of Egypt v Argentina on 14 September
5 – Irene Verasio of Argentina v China on 15 September
4 – Wipawee Srithong of Thailand v Argentina on 11 September
4 – Madeline Guillen of Dominican Republic v Argentina on 12 September
4 – Mariana Moriondo of Argentina v Dominican Republic on 12 September
4 – Eva Mori of Slovenia v China on 12 September
4 – Martina Guastavino of Argentina v China on 15 September
4 – Silvana Chausheva of Bulgaria v Turkey on 15 September
4 – Iza Mlakar of Slovenia v Egypt on 15 September

Top Team Serving Performances
12 – Dominican Republic v Argentina on 12 September
11 – Thailand v Argentina on 11 September
11 – Argentina v China on 15 September
10 – Slovenia v Argentina on 10 September
10 – Slovenia v China on 12 September
10 – Egypt v Argentina on 14 September

Highest Scoring Sets
23-21 Argentina v Dominican Republic (1st set) on 12 September
21-19 Thailand v Dominican Republic (7th set) on 15 September
22-20 Argentina v Dominican Republic (6th set) on 12 September
19-17 Dominican Republic v Egypt (6th set) on 10 September
19-17 Slovenia v Dominican Republic (4th set) on 11 September

Highest Scoring Matches
222 – Dominican Republic v Argentina 4-3 (21-23, 12-15, 15-12, 17-15, 16-14, 20-22, 15-5) on 12 September
197 – Thailand v Dominican Republic 4-3 (9-15, 12-15 15-12, 11-15, 15-12, 15-11, 21-19) on 15 September
186 – Argentina v Egypt 4-3 (15-10, 15- 16-14, 14-16, 13-15, 115, 15-11) on 14 September
175 – Bulgaria v Cuba 4-3 (10-15, 12-15, 11-15, 15-10, 15-10, 15-11, 15-6) on 12 September
167 – China v Argentina 4-2 (11-15, 13-15, 15-8, 15-11, 18-16, 16-14) on 15 September
166 – Dominican Republic v Egypt 4-2 (12-15, 15-6, 15-8, 15-12, 15-17, 19-17) on 10 September
163 – Bulgaria v Japan 4-2 (15-13, 13-1, 11-15, 15-13, 15-12, 15-11) on 10 September

Quick links - Volleyball:
FIVB Volleyball Women's U23 World Championship 2017
FIVB Volleyball Women's U23 World Championship 2017 - Schedule
FIVB Volleyball Women's U23 World Championship 2017 - Teams
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