International Season Open

[Murina]

The international season has started. Cuba, Netherlands and the Dominican Republic are in China playing now.

This is the only mention I have seen of the tournament online:

www.asianvolleyball.org/news/news_content.php?TblName=news&NewsID=876&B=1

People's Daily and Sina.com are not covering the tournament - at least not in english.

Can any chinese speakers on the board find anything?

I think CCTV5 is supposed to broadcast a match at 2am Friday, New York time. This link should work in MediaPlayer:

wwitv.com/t1/7025.asx

[simonsun]

It's held in Wu Xi, Jiang Su province, which is several hour's drive from Shanghai.
China will play Dominica tonight 11:00 PT, and possibly Cuba on Saturday.

I don't know about the other teams but China's starting outside player #3 Yang and #1 Wang got injured during the training. #9 Zhang, who killed the last ball in Athene's final, and #11 Li will play on the left. #17 Xu will continue to stay in the middle, with the new #8 Xue joining her. #7 Zhou is the new captain after Feng went to Chicago for knee surgery. She plays on the right side as usual.

China uses two young setters this year, both teenagers. The starter Wei will probably play 2008 if Feng can't recover in time. The original libero also got injured earlier so the young libero, Xian Zhang, gets a chance to prove herself.

I'm actually going to watch it online tonight. I'll keep you guys posted.

[Nutter]

For those still awake or interested, at least in North America anyway, the match between China and the Dominican Republic just started.

PbP is in Chinese though.

[Murina]

My goodness, the DOM setter is awful!

[simonsun]

murina said:

My goodness, the DOM setter is awful!

Indeed...

She's tall though

[Murina]

Good grief, she is tall (is she really 189???). I didn't think she looked that tall while watching. She should be an OP. Her arm is pretty good. Her setting made me wish for Francia Jackson!

[VolleyTX]

Good Grief.... looks like most of the Chinese team is down and out. I expect with their two left side hitters out with injury, they won't be doing very well this tournament.

Better to deal with injuries now than next year.

[Murina]

China is using Yuehong Zhang so they still have one very good outside hitter. China definitely has their work cut out for themselves, but there is plenty of good material. The new setter was decent (fantastic when compared to her DOM counterpart). It will be interesting to see how she does against a decent blocking team. Both middles seemed to be moblie attackers, and aggressive blockers. Hao played a few points here and there in this match - mostly coming in to jump serve. Her injury can't be all that bad. Liu was also available and took at least one turn in the back row for Y. Zhang.

DOM is pretty far from being good. They do have some really good material though. I just can't see using Cabral as the O1 - they die in those rotations and that isn't going to get any better.

I've been reading where China is not expecting Feng and Zhao to get back - ever! It's like they are hoping, but are moving on as if they won't be back. The president of the Chinese federation was even quoted in the press as saying something to the effect that they had miscalculated how long their players could play. They now believe that the combination of their training methods and physiques make the chinese girls peak at age 24-26 instead of a little older like the American and European women. All of their players breaking down over the last couple of years is leading them to this conclusion.

China v. either Cuba or Holland is on CCTV at the link above tonight but one hour earlier.

[simonsun]

murina said:

I've been reading where China is not expecting Feng and Zhao to get back - ever! It's like they are hoping, but are moving on as if they won't be back.

Sad but true, that's exactly the case... They are willing to pay for their surgeries, but the chance of their full recovery before 2008 is slim.

The other players, Yang, Wang and the libero just sprained their ankles or something. Nothing serious.

murina said:

The president of the Chinese federation was even quoted in the press as saying something to the effect that they had miscalculated how long their players could play. They now believe that the combination of their training methods and physiques make the chinese girls peak at age 24-26 instead of a little older like the American and European women. All of their players breaking down over the last couple of years is leading them to this conclusion.

Ha, I guess they are actually referring to Yuehong, Zhang, who's 33 this year and is still at her prime. The Asian female players usually reach their top, physically, before 26. Few can keep up after that, though their technique can still be improving.

They are saying that by more scientific training, they can prolong the career of these players, so they won't have to retire early due to injuries.

[Murina]

Yeah, Yuhong Zhang seems to be the exception in the eyes of the federation.

They are saying that by more scientific training, they can prolong the career of these players, so they won't have to retire early due to injuries.

I'm glad to hear this. The impression I got was that they were not inclined to change anything. I'm glad to hear they are!

[Murina]

Results from Wu Xi:

China d. DOM 3-0
NED d. CUB 3-2

CHN d. NED 3-1
CUB d. DOM 3-0

CUB d. CHN 3-2
NED d. DOM 3-2

Same teams will play another round robin this week in Ningbo before China, Cuba and the Netherlands go to Montreux.

I saw most of CHN v. DOM and parts of sets 3 & 4 of CHN v. NED (stream was bad).

It's early, but I'm a little surprised by some of these results. I expected Cuba to sail easily through this tournament.

[Murina]

The results from Beilun:

CHN d. NED 3-0
CUB d. DOM 3-2

CHN d. DOM 3-0
CUB d. NED 3-0

CHN d. CUB 3-2
DOM d. NED 3-2

Cuba, China and the Netherlands are on their way to Montreux where the Volleymasters will start on Tuesday.

Pool A
Germany - could win the tournament this year because they have Angelina Grun and no one else does.
Netherlands - we saw what they have in China.
Russia - Safranova is the only outside hitter most people have ever heard of.
Serbia - could send a dangerous team to this tournament, but the roster online still lists 18 players.

Pool B
China - won both legs of their tournament at home last week.
Cuba - struggled with everyone last week. Will have the most experience in the tournament.
Poland - strange mix of players.
Turkey - the big team debut of Eda Erdem? What they really need is another outside hitter.

[sIsam]

murina said:

Turkey - the big team debut of Eda Erdem? What they really need is another outside hitter.

I think we need more than one OH and a setter would be nice too

Hanikoglu is pregnant -which IMO is no big loss-, Seda is injured so we are going there with only one OH...

Eda did not have a good season at Besiktas, having worked with her old coach at the NT though, I am hoping that she will get back to her old self and shine. It is a matter of whether our setters will be able to utilize her or not.

Turkish lineup should be Elif Agca (S), Neslihan Darnel (Opp), Esra Gumus (OH), Gozde Kirdar (OH), Aysun Ozbek (MB), Eda Erdem (MB) and Gulden Kayalar (L)... We really need some OHs in here

[Murina]

Glad to hear you think Eda will get the call over Gokcen. When does Chiappini arrive and take over?

[sIsam]

murina said:

Glad to hear you think Eda will get the call over Gokcen. When does Chiappini arrive and take over?

While Gokcen is superior to both Aysun and Eda in blocking, her lack of contribution in attack will mean that she is relegated to the bench at best.

Chiappini arrives at the end of the month to take over.