Ukraine was too strong for Latvia (25-22, 25-20, 25-20) in the first classification match of Women's Sitting Volleyball at the CAU Gymnasium on Thursday, September 11.
Latvia started well with a four point lead. Impressive play from Latvia's Oksana Gromova was followed by costly mistakes by her team.
Ukraine turned the game around with strong spikes from Ilona Yudina and Larysa Klochkova. Nevertheless, Ukraine fought back and leveled the score 17-17 in the 14th minute.
A lifting call on Ukranian player Alla Lysenko was unfortunate for her team, but thanks to a number of unforced errors by Latvia and a long serve out of boundary by Nellija Rusina, Ukraine took out the first set 25-22.
Not much separated the two teams in the second set. Latvia scored some early points thanks to top-scorer Irina Jermolenko (21 points). Ukraine levelled the scores 12-12 after some much-needed spikes from captain Anzhelika Churkina (10 points) and Jermolenko. Ukraine stormed ahead in the final minutes to win the second set 25-20.
Latvia's game fell apart in the third set. Poor ball-handling, setting and receiving made it difficult for Latvia to attack, trailing 18-8 mid-way through the set. Latvia attempted a come-back, but it was too little too late, with Jermolenko's powerful spikes narrowing the score to 23-19. Ukraine's Yudina secured the win with a final spike ending the set 25-20.
Latvia, having only won one set so far (against Lithuania), blocked well and scored 15 blocking points to Ukraine's six. The team put up a good fight but was ultimately out-played by Ukraine.
(BOCOG September 11, 2008)