THAILAND overcame a stiff challenge from Canada in the third set on the way to a 25-19, 25-22, 26-24 win yesterday as Week 2 of the Volleyball Nations League got going at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Pimpichaya Kokram had 20 points on 19-of-34 attacks while Chatchu-On Moksri had two service aces to finish with 17 points while going 15-of-29 on spikes for the Thais.
Improving its record to 4-1, Thailand bucked the absence of middle blocker Thatdao Nuekjang, who suffered an injury in the opening week in Ankara, Turkey, with Hattaya Bamrungsuk taking charge in the frontline.
“We play the best that we can. We will try our best,” said Pimpichaya through an interpreter after the one-hour, 21-minute battle.
Emily Maglio’s back-to-back kills forced the game’s last deadlock at 24-all but the Canadians failed to catch a break the rest of the way.
The Canadians were brought down by 27 errors compared to the Thais’ 11.
“I think we were disappointed with what we showed up today,” said Alexa Grey, who finished with 13 points.
Kiera Van Ryk scored 20 points, including nine in the third set, while Maglio added eight markers for Canada, which slipped to 2-3.
Asian power Japan was battling Poland in the other game at press time.
Games resume today with Tokyo Olympics gold medalist and reigning VNL champion the United States taking on Bulgaria at 3 p.m.
Setter Micha Hancock, libero Justine Wong-Orantes, outside hitter Kelsey Robinson and middle blockers Chiaka Ogbogu and Haleigh Washington are the 2020 gold medalists on the US roster.
China, now ranked No. 3 in the latest women’s world rankings, plays Belgium at 7 p.m.
