Germany employ the triple block for a spike from Onuma Sittirak.

Home team fall prey to physically superior rivals in a Group G match

A fired-up Germany silenced the boisterous home fans with their exceptional spiking to power past Thailand in straight sets, 25-18 25-15 25-16, in their second match in the Group G Bangkok leg of the World Grand Prix at The Mall Bangkapi's MCC Hall yesterday.

More than 3,000 local enthusiasts packed the venue to support their players.

However, Germany, who finished tenth in the 2005 edition, were in dominant form and got off to an impressive start.

Hefty Corina Ssuschke and Margata Kozuch combined well to overpower the blockers, while Christiane Furst uncorked a series of mid-court spikes. Germany, whose

average height was 185cm against the Thais' 176cm, won the first set without much trouble 25-18.

Cheered on lustily by their fans, the local girls improved their attacking in the second set. Powerful Onuma Sittirak and Pleumjit Thinkaow took turns to carry out jump serve aces, but the Germans responded with devastating spikes and solid blocks to capture the remaining two sets

25-15 25-16.

"Our attack today was

far from impressive. Germany came out with great

serves, leaving us with few  chances to counter attack," head coach Nataphon Srisamutnak said.

"Their blocking was excellent, which always foiled our attacking attempts. In addition, our first-ball reception was bad. When we could not receive well, our attack game did not work out. I think they did a good homework in reading our gameplan. We next take on Cuba, one of the world's best teams. It's rather difficult to play them. I do hope that my girls will do their best in the match."

Captain Wilavan Apinyapong said, "We made too many mistakes. The Germans served exceptionally well. We seemed to have no answers to their powerful attacking. I think we played below-standard today."

Thailand next go up against Cuba, while Germany play Kazakhstan, who lost 3-1 (25-22 19-25 21-25 16-25) to the formidable Dominican Republic.