Thailand downs Puerto Rico 3-0 at Beilun int'l women's volleyball tournament

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Category: Ningbo District

Published: Tuesday, 21 May 2013 16:57

NINGBO, China, May 19 (Xinhua) -- Thailand held off a late challenge from Puerto Rico to secure its second victory at the Beilun International Women's Volleyball Tournament here on Sunday.

Thailand, who beat Cuba in five sets and lost 3-0 to China earlier at the four-team competition, defeated Puerto Rico 25-17, 25-16, 26-24 in one hour 13 minutes.

Outside hitter Sittirak Onuma scored game-high 17 points for Thailand, including 13 kills, and Thinkaow Pleumjit contributed 14 points. Karina Ocasio led Puerto Rico with 10 points.

"Congratulations to my girls on their better performance than yesterday. Hopefully, we will do better next week," said Thailand coach R Kiattipong.

Thailand started well, going into the first technical timeout 8-2 ahead, but Puerto Rico replied with a 7-0 run to overtake the lead at 9-8. Onuma then hit an arsenal of spikes to the middle, corner and the front row of the Puerto Rican side to help Thailand pull away at the second TTO, 16-12, and take the set.

Displaying solid floor defence and quick attack, the Thais breezed through the second set with minimal fuss.

Puerto Rico's defence was more settled at the start of the third set and even when they got blocked, they managed to get the ball back in play for another chance to attack. When 17-12 up, Puerto Rico looked set to pull one set back, but Thailand then regained their rhythm to get closer.

Trailing 24-23, Pleumjit spiked for Thailand to make it 24-all before she delivered two ace service in a row to close out the set and the match.

Later on Sunday, China face Cuba in the last match of the tournament. The four teams will move next week to Shenzhen, in south China, for the second leg of the invitational tournament.

Kiattipong values practice at China International

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Category: Ningbo District

Published: Tuesday, 21 May 2013 16:51

Thailand coach Radchatagriengkai Kiattipong is looking forward to have his players together in competition to prepare for the FIVB World Grand Prix in August

Ningbo, China, May 17, 2013 – Last year’s surprise World Grand Prix Finalists Thailand are looking forward to using this week’s China International Women's Volleyball Tournament, a two-phase event also featuring Cuba, Puerto Rico and China beginning on Friday in the city of Ningbo, as ideal preparation for the FIVB Volleyball World Grand Prix, which starts on August 2.

Thailand, ranked 12th in the world, recorded their best ever World Grand Prix result last year when they qualified for the final six for the second successive year before finishing fourth, bettering their previous best finish of sixth from 12 months earlier.

Despite coach Radchatagriengkai Kiattipong heading into the tournament with some of his players only just reporting to training after taking part in different leagues, he is looking forward to using the China International Tournament to build up his team for a busy season. “It is a good opportunity for our team to take part in such a prestigious event,” Kiattipong, who has been in charge of Thailand since 1998, said. “We have been working for only for a few weeks after the players came back from their leagues. The presence of China, Cuba and Puerto Rico guarantees a high level of volleyball.”

Newly appointed coach of the China national women’s team, Lang Ping pointed out at the pre-tournament press conference the importance of the event in helping to evaluate her new players. “Here we start our preparation towards the 2016 cycle,” Lang said. “The tournament will give me the chance to see the different players. The quality of the invited teams is good and should help our working plan.”

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China wins 1st match under Lang Ping's charge

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Category: Ningbo District

Published: Tuesday, 21 May 2013 16:53

Lang Ping, the new head coach of the Chinese women's volleyball team, gives instructions before the match against Porto Rico at the 2013 China International Women's Volleyball Tournament held in Ningbo, East China's Zhejiang province, May 17, 2013. [Photo/Xinhua]

NINGBO - The Chinese women's volleyball team beat Puerto Rico in straight sets in East China's Ningbo on Friday in their first match since Lang Ping took over as the head coach.

The Chinese team, which was formed last week, proved a class above their opponents and won the match 25-12, 25-20, 25-14 in just one hour and 11 minutes at the Beilun International Volleyball Tournament.

Outside hitter Yin Na was China's top scorer with 12 points, and captain Hui Ruoqi added 11 points. Karina Ocasio led Puerto Rico in scoring with 12 points.

Puerto Rico was given a hard time in the first set as China showed a clear edge at the net. The Puerto Ricans put up more of a fight in the second set as they improved in floor defence. Withcaptain Yarimar Rosa effective in attack, Puerto Rico briefly held a two-point lead at 13-11. Butas the game progressed, China shut down Puerto Rico's hitters and finished the set 25-20.

The third set started as a close battle until the teams were locked at 4-4. But China then won 10 unanswered points to pull away soon. Trailing 24-13, Puerto Rico staved off a match point before Li Jing spiked to close out the set and the match for China.

"We made a lot of preparations for the game. As you know, our team started training together just a week ago. I had told my players to relax and reduce errors during the match. On the whole, I think, the Chinese team played at normal level," said Lang Ping, who was appointed to coach the Chinese national team last month.

China will face Thailand on Saturday, while Puerto Rico meet Cuba.

Xiangshan released plan for island protection and development

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Category: Ningbo District

Published: Tuesday, 21 May 2013 16:40

Recently, the implement plan of Xiangshan for the protection and development of important islands of Zhejiang was officially released. The plan specifies the ecological protection and industrial development of the 10 provincial-level islands in Xiangshan County: Nantian, Taotang, Hua'ao, Tantou, Dongmen, Duimianshan, Beiyushan, Pingfengshan and Haishan Island.

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