Netherlands’s Manon Flier holds up the trophy after her team placed first at the FIVB World Grand Prix women's volleyball tournament in Hong Kong. 

Photo by Vincent Chan

Hong Kong, August 16, 2009 – Credit must be given to the thundering cheers and applause of over 13,000 audience at the Hong Kong Coliseum as China defeated Netherlands in a four-set match by 25-21, 25-22, 21-25 and 25-21 on Sunday afternoon.

China team take a group photo during Hong Kong FIVB World Grand Prix. China won  3-1 

Photo by Vincent Chan

China Head Coach Cai Bin

We sincerely congratulate Netherlands. They are an excellent team both in terms of skills and tactics, and they respond really fast to their opponent in the court. Their defense is comparable to that of Asian teams.

Comparing performance of yesterday and today

We were better today in terms of psychological adjustment and had better preparation

Playing in the Final Round in Japan

We treasure every opportunity to play and improve ourselves. We will strive to attain the best result based on the current foundations.

China’players celebrate for a winning point after beating Netherlands during the FIVB World Grand Prix women's volleyball tournament in Hong Kong

China’s Li Juan (1), Xue Ming (2) and Wang Yimei (10) misses the ball during their FIVB World Grand Prix women's volleyball tournament in Hong Kong.

China’ Xue Ming (2) spikes the ball against player of Netherlands during their FIVB World Grand Prix women's volleyball tournament in Hong Kong.

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Hong Kong, August 16, 2009 – The aggressive Polish wiped out the Dominicans’ last hope of victory in the FIVB third preliminary round with 22-25, 25-23, 25-14, 13-25, 15-11 at Hong Kong Coliseum on Sunday.

The Dominicans impressed the audience in the first set. The remarkable strategies broke the concrete defense of Poland. The Dominicans led a double ahead of the Polish at 8-4 at the first TTO. Using a good variety of spikes promoted by the setter of Dominicans, they felicitously stretched the set at 16-9. The Dominicans concluded the set at 25-22.

Awaken from the loss in the first set, the Polish came back with compact blocks that devastated many bullet attacks from the Dominicans. Their impermeable defense at the net enabled Poland to lead at both TTOs (8-6, 16-10). Despite the Dominicans snatching 7 points in a row and tied with the Polish at 18-18, Poland managed to overcome the furious Dominicans and take the set (25-23).

Poland opened the score in the third set and got a 4-0 run, further securing the lead at 6-13 before the coach of the Dominicans cooling his team down by calling for another TO. Succumbed to great pressure, the Dominicans soon found themselves 9 points behind their opponent at the second TTO (7-16). Poland, with a good base to build a more solid margin of advantage, showed no mercy and cruised on to win the set 14-25. 

The Dominicans came back with outrage in the fourth set. They grabbed four points ahead of the Polish at the first TTO. The flame kept burning and the Polish shouted for a time out when they were 5 points behind the Dominicans. The Dominicans led the Polish a double at the second TTO. The Dominicans continued their attacks and won at 25-13.

The breath-taking final set as well as the ultimate victory of game went to Poland (15-11).

information from FIVB