Thailand shook off a second-set stand from Australia to clinch its first win of the 2022 PNVF AVC Cup for Women Group B action in straight sets, 25-9, 27-25, 25-13, Monday afternoon at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig City.
The 2018 bronze medallists went up to 1-1 in the standings in the pool heading into their last match of the pool round, while Australia entered the fray with 0-1.
Pimpichaya Kokram took the lead for the Thais with 16 points on 14 attacks and two service aces. But it was Watchareeya Nuanjam who stood her ground at the net with seven attacks, one block, and one ace for a total of nine markers.
For captain and setter Pornpun Guedpard, it was a matter of correcting their mistakes from the previous day’s loss to Japan.
The 29-year-old playmaker said, “Yesterday, we had a big problem in reception. That’s why we lost. So, we had a meeting before we came back for the game today. But we don’t know anything about Australia, about its system, about how they perform. So, we focused on our team first and how we play volleyball.”
Australia kept in step with Thailand in the opening set. Then the latter capitalized on the opponents’ passing problems to take the lopsided win in the first.
Eventually, the Volleyroos cleaned up their defensive lines and threatened to steal the second with opposite hitter Caitlin Tipping leading the charge. Thailand, though, turned back to their own patterns to deny the Australians the second and instead take a 2-0 advantage.
From there, it was no turning back for the Southeast Asian powerhouse. They peppered the Australians with attacks in that third-set rout that sealed the win. Reception woes also compounded the yellow-shirts’ problems, which set up Thailand for either aces or easy points in transition.
Chatchu-on Moksri almost ended with double digits for a second straight match. She finished with nine points on seven spikes and two aces.
Tipping was the only Australian player in double digits with 11 on a balanced production of eight attacks, two blocks, and one ace. Khiani Garton-Dodd also kept the squad in the game with her seven points on four spikes, two aces, and one block in the three sets of play.
Thailand will take a one-day break before facing Chinese Taipei for its last game of pool play on Wednesday at 4:00 PM. On the other hand, Australia will battle the very same team first on Tuesday at 1:0o PM.
—
Catch the best volleyball players in the continent on SMART GigaPlay. Download it here.
#AVConGigaplay
