Nigel Simon
T&T 'Calypso Spikers, winless after two matches will be seeking an improvement when they meet Thailand in their third Pool C match in the 2018 FIVB Women's World Championship at the Kobe Green Arena, Osaka Bay, Japan, from 2.10 am (T&T time) today.
Eight-time Caribbean champions, T&T, making its debut at the tournament have gone under to two of the top teams in the competition, fifth-ranked Russia and reigning champions the USA, ranked second in the world, both by 0-3 margins.
Thailand on the other hand, has been involved in two five sets matches, a 3-2 win over Korea on opening day followed by a 2-3 loss to Russia and will be keen to get back to winning ways.
Going into the match, T&T coach Francisco Cruz also has some injury concerns in captain Renele Forde and outside spiker Delicia Pierre while Thailand is expected to be at full strength.
In the other Pool C matches today, Russia (2-0) faces Azerbaijan (1-1) and reigning champions the USA meets winless Korea.
Yesterday, Netherlands and Serbia became the first two teams to secure their spots in the second round after they scored their third wins in Pools A and D, respectively.
The two European sides maintained their unbeaten records and can no longer be knocked out of the first four positions in their pool standings.
Serbia won the big match of the day at Japan 2018, a spectacular shutout of the other team in Pool D that had not dropped any sets yet – Brazil, 25-21, 25-18, 25-19.
The Netherlands maintained their unbeaten status in Pool A by defeating a battling Cameroon 25-16, 26-24, 25-18 to record their best ever start in a World Championship – three in three.
Yesterday's results
Pool A
Germany bt Argentina 25-21, 34-32, 25-18
Netherlands bt Cameroon 25-16, 26-24, 25-18
Japan bt Mexico 25-15, 25-15, 25-15
Pool D
Dominican Republic bt Kazakhstan 25-22, 25-15, 25-19
Puerto Rico bt Kenya 25-20, 25-22, 25-15
Serbia bt Brazil 25-21, 25-18, 25-19
