The FIVB Volleyball World Grand Prix Macao 2016, organized by Sports Bureau of the Macao SAR Government and Volleyball Association of Macao, China and presented by Galaxy Entertainment Group, concluded today (19 June) at the Macao Forum. China capped a perfect weekend and won the title of the Macao leg with a straight set victory against Brazil, whilst Serbia finished win a close win over Belgium.
In the first match, Serbia scored an impressive win over Belgium 3-2 (24-26, 26-24, 25-23, 23-25, 15-10). Serbian Brankica Mihajlovic ruled at the net, scoring 31 points for her team.
Serbia had won six of the last seven matches against Belgium and their winning ways continued today as despite numerous encounters on European stage, Belgium and Serbia met for the first time in World Grand Prix ranks. This match was also Serbia’s third consecutive five-set match. Brankica Mihajlovic led Serbia with 27 kills, 3 service aces and one block, while Mina Popovic contributed 6 blocks. Lise Van Hecke led Belgium with 20 kills and Laura Heyrman had 8 blocks.
The Serbian’s started slowly, trailing Belgium by three early on but they quickly recovered to take a one-point lead at the first technical time out. From that point forward both teams battled for control but neither team could produce more than a four-point lead. Down by three points, Belgian star Lise Van Hecke was knocked down in the back row by a powerful spike from Serbia’s Brakocevic. Belgium picked up its play after this and consecutive blocks by Laura Heyrman gave the lead back to Belgium 24-23. Heyrman, who dug a spike from Mihajlovic and sent the ball into the back corner, scored the final point of the set.
Serbia started stronger in set two, taking an early 12-7 lead. The Belgian’s took a time out to regroup and it paid off as they scored nine of the next thirteen points to tie the match at 16-16. From that point the teams battled to 23-23, with neither team grabbing more than a one-point lead throughout. The Serbian block took control at that point, denying the Belgian side a much-needed kill. Mihajlovic closed out the set with an impressive kill from the back row.
Set three was a terrific battle as neither team could manage more than a two-point advantage. The first sizeable lead for Serbia came courtesy of Mihajlovic who completed two consecutive kills to give her team a 23-19 lead. That proved too much for the Belgians to overcome as Serbia captured the set 25-23.
The fourth set was much like the third as neither team could build a sizeable lead. Britt Herbots used her float serve to give Belgium the lead at 22-19. Mihajlovic came to the service line and brought her side back into the match at 22-22. But it was the Belgium defense that took control of the set and the Serbians could generate little offense as Belgium took the set 25-23.
The fifth set saw the Serbian’s rush out to a 7-2 lead, thanks in part to Zivkovic, who earned four points with her float serve. Belgium did manage to close to within three points but it was too little too late. It was Mihajlovic who closed out the match with a service ace.
China then swept aside Brazil 3-0 (25-23, 25-16, 25-20) to win the Macao leg of the 2016 FIVB World Grand Prix. China's Fangxu Yang top scored with 12, the next best scorer for China was Ting Zhu with 10 points, while Brazil's Fernanda Rodrigues scored a team-high 11. China’s three victories in Macao means they won all six matches at this year's World Grand Prix.
A boisterous crowd greeted the Chinese team at the start of the match and the home team used this energy to jump out to a 5-0 lead, prompting an early time out from the Brazilian side. China pulled ahead 13-6 due to excellent blocking from Ni Yan. Brazil found its stride and began to chip away at the Chinese lead, eventually closing to within one point at 21-22. China responded by bringing in a setter Xia Ding and they maintained their lead to take the set 25-23.
It was Brazil who took the early 7-3 lead in set two thanks to two consecutive kills from Fernanda. With Ting Zhu at the service line, the Chinese scored five straight points to tie the match at 11-11. China kept up its strong play and pulled ahead 23-16 due in part to some excellent blocking by Ting Zhu and Ni Yan. Brazil made a number of substitutions at this point but China stayed in control and finished the set 25-16.
Set three started as a tight affair as neither team managed to reach more than a two-point advantage. Fabiana gave her side the lead at 7-5 with two points from serve. The Chinese battled back, using their block to neutralize the Brazilian attack and collected seven consecutive points to race off to 16-9. Brazil fought back to within three points but the Chinese maintained their composure and maintained control of the set. Fangxu Yang put down a thunderous kill to give the Chinese a 24-20 lead and she followed with a service ace to close out the match.
Final standing of the FIVB Volleyball World Grand Prix Macao 2016: 1st, China; 2nd, Serbia; 3rd, Brazil; 4th, Belgium. In addition to their win, Chinese players Zhu Ting and Zhang Changning also won five individuals awards, with the former winning the MVP and Galaxy Star Award, and the latter awarded the prizes of Best Outside Spiker, Best Opposite Spiker and Best Middle Blocker. Danielle Lins won the Best Setter award.
