China wins over Brazil 3-2 to top Group B at the FIVB World Grand Prix preliminary round held in east China's port city of Ningbo on Sunday, June 22, 2008.

An ace from setter Wei Qiuyue and a block by Xue on Fabiana moved the Chinese team three points ahead, 19-16. To a thunderous audience, the host team had the momentum and took the hotly contested set at 25-22 after squandering two set points. The went on to take the tie- break at 15-13.

Yet the breathtaking victory does not impressed head coach Chen Zhonghe, who even criticized some starting players openly in the press conference.

"I hope we can improve the players' skills and boost our morale, but many problems were still there. For example, setter Feng Kun had trouble in finding chemistry with the young players, while her replacement Wei Qiuyue is also lost on the court, and libero Zhang Na plays below level."

In the second week preliminary round starting on June 27, China will compete with Japan, Italy and Cuba in Group F to be held in Chinese Hong Kong.

In an earlier match, Thailand caused a lot of trouble for Germany, who had to overcome a first set slump to beat Thailand 19-25, 25-18, 25-21 and 25-22.

Germany had difficulty in finding their range at the beginning of the opening set, while the Thai team was already looking dangerous at the net as Saymai Paladsrichuay and Amporn Hyapha picked off some aggressive points.

Thailand came into the first technical timeout in front 8-7, following an Amporn ace down the right side in German side. The European team returned with some classic play, but it was the Thai block that impressed, notably Pleumjit Thinkaow on German captain Cornelia Dumler.

Another ace by Pleumjit gave Thailand a comfortable 16-11 cushion at the second technical timeout. Saymai, Amporn and Nootsara Tomkom kept the points coming for Thailand, while the German girls had hard time in finding their range although they are much higher than the Thai counterparts. Trailing at 18-13, Germany came off for their first timeout of the match in trouble.

Pleumjit continued her top form on the resumption, delivering another skillful block on Margareta Kozuch to move them six points ahead, 22-16. The German girls looked in peril, having difficulty breaking through before giving Thailand the first set of the tournament at 25-19.

German players obviously raised their game in the second set, coming into the second technical timeout ahead 16-10. The Thai skippers swatted some fine winners, threatening a comeback, but Germany had the momentum.

Dumler climbed well on the left to beat a three-strong Thai defense and was able to pull back one set for Germany after a lob, 25-18.

Germany came out for the third set with vastly improved blocking and attacking, and went on to take the set 25-21.

The Thai team showed some battling quality in the fourth set and reached the first technical timeout at 8-3. The Asian team continued the pressure upon Germany and stretched the lead to 12-6.But then the German defense got to work again and a 8-4 run brought them to within two points at the second technical timeout 16-14.

A block from Corina Ssuschke on Wilavan helped the German girls tie the match at 17-17 for the first time in the set. Germany finally took the set and the thrilling match at 25-22.

"It is our first victory of the tournament, Thailand is hard to beat and it is difficult for our team to score points. Our team is young and we have to learn to play under pressure. Sometimes we made more mistakes," Germany coach Giovanni Guidetti said of the match.

(Xinhua News Agency June 23, 2008)