Inside VolleyCountry

Buakaew retired from NT, right?
What about Thapapaipun?

Why no action over here? Thailand is wonderful team. They need to upgrade the coaches but they are fun to watch. I'm surprised they aren't winning more. Don't know what they need to get over the hump. They play just like Japan, and they are even quicker than Japan with some of their attacking.

I was hoping that after Thailand's wonderful win over Brazil (WGP 2017 Group1) they'd follow it with a win over Serbia and we could all gather and show them some big love. But, alas.

I love how fast they attack with that one play that's not a strictly cross-court set, but the setter is almost behind the attacker and the ball would go over the net anyway if the attacker didn't smash it silly and help it along. How does anybody defend that? Why don't more teams do it. It's gorgeous!

I hope Thailand will make the 2020 OG ... not at the expense of my beloved Japanese team, mind you. I think trading in their whiny, yellow-card-getting coaches for a zen master would help.

I need to learn their names better. I wish I could hear them as they are pronounced.

That play is beautiful. I don`t know if you watched the interview in the end with Serbian MB Veljekovic and she said playing against Thailand is tough because they play a "special volleyball".

If they could be just a bit taller......

Quoted from "sitenoise"

I love how fast they attack with that one play that's not a strictly cross-court set, but the setter is almost behind the attacker and the ball would go over the net anyway if the attacker didn't smash it silly and help it along. How does anybody defend that? Why don't more teams do it. It's gorgeous!

`

Quoted from "tomen"

Quoted from "Phil"

Buakaew retired from NT, right?
What about Thapapaipun?

During Asian Cup 2016, Wanna Buakaew had been the assistant coach of Thai NT.
Tapaphaipun Chaisri wasn't been seen in Thai NT since the warm-up matches against Chinese NT before the qualification for the 2016 Women's Olympic volleyball tournament.
It was said that she was just a trainer in 2016.

Chaisri played vs brazil, and japan!!!! check the stats. she entered the game

Yes. Finally, she is back
Does anybody know how MB Amporn Hyapa plays after the break?

she played in the philippines last month. i think she still plays well but not better than pleumjit and thadtao

Quoted from "Phil"

Yes. Finally, she is back
Does anybody know how MB Amporn Hyapa plays after the break?

She retired from NT.

Finally watched the Thailand v Italy match in full. If you are a fan of Thailand volleyball this is a sublime experience. So much joy. Their last match of the Grand Prix -- on Home turf -- and they start off 11-0! My goodness. How often does that happen at this level of volleyball? I don't know what was Italy's problem but they seemed out of position against most of the attacks. Maybe because Thailand delivers them rather quickly. I also think Nootsara is a little tricky. I'm not the best volleyball observer but I found myself surprised many times by who ended up delivering the attack. It's like modern dance. Italy's libero got a workout, and although she couldn't dig them all she impressed with her hustle.

To bookend the match (not to mention the "I'll see your block touch challenge and raise you a net fault challenge"!--I didn't know you could do that), the very last point was a little one-handed backhand blind tip from Nootsara to Pleumjit who delivered it almost straight down to the floor. Lovely stuff.

Here's a couple links to the video. The first is to FIVB's official stream but it may be blocked in some country so I post a second one that should be available to all, and encourage anyone who hasn't seen it to give it a look

Can anyone tell me what the full passage is that Ajcharaporn has (presumably) tattooed on her leg?

Quoted

"The greatest pleasure in life is ...
What people say you ..."

Quoted from "sitenoise"

Can anyone tell me what the full passage is that Ajcharaporn has (presumably) tattooed on her leg?

I'm going with:

"The greatest pleasure in life is doing what people say you cannot do"