Hosts China made short work of six-time winners Brazil 3-0 for their fourth straight win at the FIVB World Grand Prix Finals in Beilun, East China on Sunday.

 

 

Following an opening loss to the Netherlands, China kept bouncing back at the renowned event and finished second in the final rankings on nine points after beating Brazil 25-21, 25-21, 25-13 at the Beilun Sports and Arts Center.

 

The three-times defending champions Brazil had to settle for a disappointing fifth place in the six-strong round robin tournament on 1-4 win-loss record.

 

After taking the opening set at 25-21, the Olympic champions jumped to an early 5-3 lead in the second set, inspired by middle blockers Ma Yunwen and Xue Ming, but it was Brazil that led into the first TTO at 8-7.

 

Pequeno Paula and Castro Sheilla scored some impressive winners to keep the points coming for Brazil, but the momentum was switched to the other side when China built up a 23-19 cushion.

 

Sheilla spiked long to put China 24-20 ahead and Chinese captain Zhou Suhong battered home on the second set point to make a match of it at 25-21.

 

Veteran Yang Hao and Zhou spiked efficiently early in the third set to fire China 4-0 up while Brazil seemed to be running out of steam, making a string of unforced errors.

 

The first TTO then came with China ahead 8-3 while the Brazilian team was seriously troubled with their shaky defense. China never looked back en route to a 25-13 end.

 

(Xinhua News Agency August 27, 2007)