Venezuelan Women make history with men and qualify for Olympics on same day

From FIVB website:
A big time for Venezuela: first Olympic berth also for Women’s team, after the Men’s South American Olympic Qualification victory
 

Venezuela Women's team: first berth ever at the Olympic Games
Lima, Peru, 8 January 2008 – Venezuela will have both its Volleyball teams at Beijing Olympic Games. A first time ever for the Men’s team, qualified in Argentina, and the same for the Women’s squad, which won as well the South American Olympic Qualification Tournament.
 
Playing in Lima, Peru, the Women national team of Venezuela bit the home team in the last game of the South American Beijing Qualification Tournament and got its place for the Olympic Games. Venezuela won 3 - 2 (25-22, 25-27, 25-22, 22-25, 15-12).
 
On the first set the visiting team led the score most of the time, with a great performance of the spikers. Venezuela easily scored 23-16 but, with the help of the crowd, Peru made less mistakes and scored a lot of points, till 22-24. Despite Peruvians effort, Jayce Andrade, from Venezuela, closed the set 25-22.
 
In the second set the two teams put up a fight point by point and both of the teams played a very good Volleyball. The teams exchanged often the leadership of the match until the scored showed 25-25. Peru won 27-25 and keep believing in the victory.
The history of the third set was similar to the first one. Venezuela confidence kept growing and the visiting team led the score 13-8. Peru tried to react, and tied 13-13. The parity continued until 20-20 but Venezuela was very comfortable and closed the set 25-22.
The 6.000 people cheering for Peru made the team return on the court more offensive. The spikers showed a good technique and put their team ahead of the set. Soon, Venezuela reacted and won 25-22 taking the game to the tie break.
The last set was the most competitive in the game: the most exciting moment happened when the score showed 10-10. The teams were fighting like titans until Jesica Paz ended the game with a perfect block. Venezuela ensured the victory (15-12) and qualified for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.
 

The match ended with an intense tie-break where both teams kept fighting, until Jesica Paz closed the set 15-12, leaving a silent Coliseum with the triumph of the Venezuelan team, who will participate in the 2008 OG with both men’s and women’s team.

The road to Beijing
Olympic Games 2008 Women's Volleyball
1. China (host country)
2. Italy (1. World Cup)
3. Brazil (2. World Cup)
4. USA (3. World Cup)
5. (African Qualification Tournament)
6. (Asian Qualification Tournament) *
7. (European Qualification Tournament)
8. Cuba (Norceca Qualification Tournament)
9. Venezuela (South American Qualification Tournament)
10. (World Qualification Tournament)
11. (World Qualification Tournament)
12. (World Qualification Tournament)
 
The Asian Continental Qualification Tournaments are played combined with the World Olympic Qualification Tournaments in Japan

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