VOLLEYBALL: Brazil wins men’s World Cup; Dominicans beat U.S. in NORCECA Women’s

A happy Dominican women's team after upsetting the U.S. in the NORCECA Championship final (Photo: NORCECA)

Although not impacting anything important like the Olympic Games, the FIVB men’s World Cup and the NORCECA Women’s Championship concluded over the weekend.

In Japan, the round-robin men’s World Cup – 14th edition – did not qualify teams for Tokyo 2020, but did reinforce who the contenders are: Brazil, Poland, the U.S. and Japan.

Brazil ran through the tournament undefeated (11-0) and won for the third time in the last five editions. Poland was second for the second time in the last three tournaments and the U.S. was third for the second time, after winning in 2015.

The Brazilians swept the U.S., 3-0, and beat Poland in a close, three-sets-to-two match. The U.S. inexplicably lost to Argentina in its first match and to Brazil, but beat Poland, 3-1. The Poles lost only to Brazil and the U.S. and finished second based on more points from losing fewer sets.

The awards:

Most Valuable Player: Alan Souza (BRA)
Best Setter: Micah Christenson (USA)
Best Outside Spikers: Wilfredo Leon (POL) and Yuki Ishikawa (JPN)
Best Middle Blockers: Maxwell Holt (USA) and Lucas Saatkamp (BRA)
Best Opposite Spiker: Yuji Nishida (JPN)
Best Libero: Thales Hoss (BRA)

In the NORCECA women’s tournament in San Juan (PUR), the host Puerto Ricans and the U.S. both won all three of their group matches and advanced to the semifinals. The U.S. swamped Canada, 3-0, but the hosts were upset by the Dominican Republic, 3-2 and faced the Americans in the final.

The U.S. had won their group match, 3-0, but the Dominican immediately won the first two sets. But the U.S. fought back to win the next two sets by 25-15 and 25-20. The fifth set was a 15-9 win for the Dominicans, giving them their second-ever title in the event and first win over the U.S. in four tries in a NORCECA final.

The awards:

Most Valuable Player: Brayelin Martinez (DOM)
Best Server: Bethania De La Cruz (DOM)
Best Hitter: Kim Hill (USA)
Best Opposite: Karsta Lowe (USA)
Best Setter: Jordyn Poulter (USA)
Best Digger: Justine Wong (USA)
Best Libero: Maria Jose Castro (CRC)
Best Scorer: Andrea Rangel (MEX)
Best Blocker: Neira Ortiz (PUR)
Best Receiver: Shara Venegas (PUR)

Summaries:

FIVB Men’s World Cup
Japan ~ 1-15 October 2019
(Full results here)

Final Standings: 1. Brazil (11-0); 2. Poland (9-2); 3. United States (9-2); 4. Japan (8-3); 5. Argentina (6-5); 6. Russia (5-6); 7. Italy (5-6); 8. Iran (4-7); 9. Canada (4-7); 10. Egypt (2-9); 11. Australia (2-9); 12. Tunisia (1-10).

NORCECA Women’s Championship
San Juan (PUR) ~ 6-14 October 2019
(Full results here)

Final Standings: 1. Dominican Republic (4-1); 2. United States (4-1); 3. Canada (3-2); 4. Puerto Rico (3-2); 5. Mexico; 6. Cuba; 7. Costa Rica; 8. Trinidad & Tobago. Third: Canada d. Puerto Rico, 3-0. Final: Dominican Rep. d. U.S., 3-2 (25-19, 25-23, 15-25, 20-25, 15-9).