USA vs Turkey for VNL title
NANJNG, China, June 30, 2018 - Michelle Bartsch-Hackley lifted
Team USA into the FIVB Volleyball Nations League final through
sheer weight of numbers on Saturday, her match-leading 24 points
proving the difference in her side's 3-1 (25-23, 25-20, 18-25,
25-18) victory over China.
The star wing spiker has been a force of nature as these
inaugural VNL finals have played out, leading her team to a 3-0
run and top-scoring in each victory so far. On Saturday her
points came from 22 kills and two big stuffs and she was a huge
influence all match.
But the American talent pool runs deep and the reigning world
champions were also lifted at the Olympics Sports Centre by the
veteran middle blocker Foluke Akinradewo, with 14 points, and
opposite spiker Kelly Murphy with 13 points. Overall the
Americans picked up 66 points in total from kills, to China's
55, as they fine-tuned their attack in readiness for Sunday's
final, where they'll now face Turkey.
The Chinese were led - as always - by their captain and star Zhu
Ting whose 18 points came from 18 kills.
China had lost to Brazil 3-0 the night before but their 3-1 win
over the Netherlands on Wednesday proved enough for them to
qualify for the semi-finals given the Dutch finished pool play
winless.
Sunday's first-ever VNL final promises plenty, given the fact
that Turkey were one of only two teams to beat the Americans
during preliminary round play (3-2 way back on May 16) - and
given their current run of form.
The USA might have overrun Turkey 3-0 this past Wednesday in the
opening VNL finals exchange - Bartsch-Hackley leading the way
with 18 points - but that loss seemed to spark the Turks into
action, as shown on Thursday when they dispensed with Serbia
3-2, and then again earlier on Saturday with their stunning 3-0
semi-final win over Brazil.
Sunday's action begins with the third-fourth place play-off
between Brazil and China at 3pm local time, before the main
event, with the whistle set to sound as the USA and Turkey fight
for the VNL title at 7pm local time. |