Historic achievement for France and Triumph for Brazil at the World Championship
Recap
The Round of 16 at the World Championship in Thailand continues, and today brought both historic milestones and remarkable achievements.
China - France 1-3 (20-25, 25-27, 25-22, 20-25)
France made history by reaching the quarterfinals of the FIVB Volleyball Women’s World Championship for the first time in over 70 years, defeating two-time champions China in 1/8 stage of the World Championship.
Captain Helena Cazaute led with 22 points and credited the win to the team’s relentless spirit.
France had already shown promise earlier in the tournament with 3-1 wins over Puerto Rico and Greece, and a strong five-set battle against Brazil. Against China, opposite spiker Iman Ndiaye added 20 points, while Amelie Rotar scored 18.
Coach Hernandez praised the team’s blocking and defense, saying belief and bravery were key.
France last appeared in the World Championship quarterfinals in 1952, but this time they’re not just participating — they’re competing at the highest level. Hernandez hopes this is only the beginning.
Cesar HernandezOur men’s team are Olympic champions. Now we want to build the same for the women.
Head coach of French National Team
Brasil - Dominican Republic 3 -1 (18-25, 25-12, 25-20, 25-12)
Brazil recovered after a shaky start to decisively beat the Dominican Republic and advance to the quarterfinals. Standout performers were Gabi Braga (21 points) and Julia Bergmann (17 points), while the Dominican effort was led by Gaila González with 15. Brazil's defense – especially blocking – proved instrumental in winning three successive sets after the first.
After dropping the opening set, Brazil responded powerfully, winning three straight sets with dominant play. Leading the charge was Gabi Braga, who scored 21 points, followed by Julia Bergmann with 17. For the Dominican team, Gaila González led with 15 points, with Jineirys Martínez adding 9 and Brayelin Martínez contributing 8.
In the first set, the Dominican squad showcased excellent reception and attacks, notably from Brayelin Martínez, Yonkaira Peña, and Gaila González, jumping ahead to 11‑9 after a 3‑0 run. However, Brazil never let them close the gap.
The second set saw Brazil launch an overwhelming 11‑1 run, leveraging their strong blocking. They extended the lead further with a 5‑0 streak to dominate the set 25‑12. In the third set, Brazil maintained control with strong attacks from Gabi Braga, pulling away despite Dominican attempts to catch up. In the fourth, Brazil’s effective blocking limited the Dominicans to just 12 points, securing the match.