|
Home>News Center>Sports | |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
China crowns at GP Ningbo leg with victory in "War Between He and Ping" China beat the United States 3-0 here on Sunday to win the title of the 2005 World Grand Prix women's volleyball tournament Ningbo leg with three straight wins. The Chinese women had no great trouble winning the high-profile clash, which had been titled by Chinese media as "War Between He and Ping" (Chinese head coach Chen Zhonghe and the United States' head coach Lang Ping), 25-22, 25-15 and 25-15. "We played better than I expected," said Lang Ping. "China is avery strong team and we are here to learn from them." "I think at present the Chinese team is the stronger one of thetwo teams, because the American team was a new one and the playersjust got together," said Chen Zhonghe. "Although, they played verygood defense in the first set and I told our players to learn fromthem before the second set." Chen Zhonghe, who led the Chinese women to consecutive victories at the World Cup in Japan in 2003 and the Olympic Games in Athens in 2004, had been assistant coach to Lang in late 1990s.After their first meeting as opponents, Chen and Lang appeared to be very friendly with each other at the press conference. "I think Mr. Chen was kind to us in the match (did not try his best)," said Lang, who took the helm of the American team about two months ago, with a smile. "Ms. Lang was just modest," Chen responded, also smiling. "We attached great importance to this match and tried our very best." The two head coaches shook hands in front of dozens of reporters, who rushed to the Chinese port to witness the highly expected match, at the end of the press conference. In the eyes of the Chinese people, Lang is far more than just avolleyball star. A member of the Chinese women's volleyball team that inspired an early-1980s China, which had just emerged from seclusion and started out on a path of robust economic development, Lang is still regarded as one the nation's spiritual idols. "Lang Ping, Go! China, invincible!" some home fans chanted during the match that was watched by more than 8,000 spectators. The American team fought bravely against the Olympic and World Cup double titlist. With Nancy Metcalf, the top scorer of the United States, continually delivering storming strikes from the sides, the American women made it a closely contested game early in the first set and stayed within 20-17. China had a 4-2 run to go up 24-19 before the United States beat off three set points to make it two-point game. Chu Jinglingdrove a ball out of bounds to clinch the opener for the host. The Americans started well in the second set, racing to a 4-2 lead. However, their mistakes increased sharply from then on, allowing the Chinese easily pull away with a 13-4 surge and store an unshakable 19-10 lead. In the third set, China continued to prevail as both teams rotated their players frequently. "We wanted to win, but we also wanted to play our best," said Lindsey Berg of the United States. "I think we played to our best standard in the first set, but our passing broke down in the last two sets and the lack of experience was our disadvantage." Metcalf led the United States with 15 points. The United States finished third at the four-team tournament with one win against two losses. The Netherlands came in second with a 2-1 record while Thailand settled for the bottom after three straight losses.
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
