MANILA – Nakhon Ratchasima QminC Cat Devil from Thailand displayed their firepower to sweep Creamline Cool Smashers, 25-15, 25-22, 25-16, in the AVC Women’s Volleyball Champions League quarterfinals on Thursday at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig City.
Anyse Marlee Smith spearheaded the offense with 13 points, from 11 attacks, one service ace, and a block, as the Cat Devil moved on to the semifinals round against the Zhetysu Volleyball Club from Kazakhstan.
Sittirak Onuma added 12 markers, all coming from the attacks, while Janthawisut Sasipapron also ended with 12 points from 11 attacks and a block for the Thai-based volleyball club.
“We won the game because we played well and we had teamwork,” said Onuma, as translated by Cat Devil assistant coach Jang Bualee. “We had so many mistakes in this game that we intend to fix heading into the semifinals.”
Except for the closely contested second set, the Cat Devil exhibited dominance over the Cool Smashers behind the accurate attacks from Smith, Onuma, and Sasipapron to conclude the match in straight sets.
Anastasiya Kudryashova top-scored for the Cool Smashers with nine points, on eight attacks and one block, while Negrense Bernadeth Pons and Anastassiya Kolomoyets had eight and seven points, respectively.
Meanwhile, PLDT High Speed Hitters also bowed out of contention after losing to Zhetysu in their separate quarterfinals match, 25-13, 25-22, 25-20.
After a lopsided defeat in the first set, the High Speed Hitters managed to keep pace with the taller Zhetysu team in the second set before ultimately succumbing to a 25-22 loss.
The match remained competitive in the third set, where the High Speed Hitters only trailed at 23-20, but two consecutive powerful attacks from Zhetysu concluded the game.
Karina Denysova finished with 15 points, including 13 attacks, to be named Player of the Game for the Zhetysu. Tatyana Nikitina top-scored with 19 points, while Yuliya Dymar also contributed double-digit offense with 11 markers, all from attacks./PN
