Wednesday brought us some curious battles! Poland loses first game against USA, Points went also to Serbia, France and Iran.
Argentina: De Cecco (1), Conte (10), Sole (12), Gonzalez (6), Filardi (6), Ramos (8), Garrocq (L) and Darraidou (5), Uriarte, Quiroga (2), Crer (1), Toro (2) France: Toniutti, N’gapeth (21), Le Roux (11), Rouzier (18), Tillie, Le Goff (14), Grebennikov (L) and Marechal (13), Sidibe (1), Jaumel
The first set of play ensued on a point-by-point exchange by both squads until Argentina took a three-point advantage 12-9 that continued until 14-11. The Argentine lead ballooned further at 18-13, forcing French coach Laurent Tillie to call for timeout. After a run of three strong serves from outside hitter Ngapeth, France narrowed the gap to within just three points 20-17. Jose Luis Gonzalez and Sole unleashed superb attacks to help close the first set 25-20.
France jumped to an 8-5 lead and carried on that momentum to pull through and dominate the second technical timeout 16-10. The change in the frontliners of Argentina somehow affected the tempo of the game but somehow they managed to cut a small chunk of the lead. Nicolas Le Goff nailed the second set point in favour of France 25-17.
France had another great display in the third set and led 16-13 after a brilliant block by Antonin Rouzier and Ngapeth. The three points were suddenly wiped out as Argentina tied the match at 21-all. The dink of Nicolas Le Goff gave a set point to France 24-23 but Argentina persistently challenged them to extend the set. Both teams closely fought for the deadlock at 27-all. France won another point until a great save from Jenia Grebennikov set up Ngapeth for the kill to give France the 2-1 set advantage with the score at 29-27.
France showed their confidence and calmness in their offence that gave them a comfortable 16-8 advantage. The Argentines fought hard but could not match the skill quality that the Frenchmen were showing. Argentina’s defence could not hold the strong attacks of France that allowed the latter to secure the set and match 25-18.
Serbia quickly grabbed a 3-0 lead with Lisinac blocking hard and Italy showed some focus problems which prevented them to get closer. Atanasijevic started to do some damage and Nikola Kovacevic teamed up to give the Serbs full control of the game (13-8). It was just a matter of consistency for Serbia as they progressed to the final 25-19, after a block from Marko Podrascanin.
Podrascanin reappeared in the next chapter to spur his side (11-7) and that distance remained for a while, but the Azzurri bounced back with good serves from Dragan Travica and the scores tied at 16 points each. Atanasijevic fired an ace to restore the Serbian lead (20-19) and Nikola Jovovic gave the team two set balls with a block, but Italy survived to 24-24. In a close ending, Atanasijevic nailed two counterattacks in a row and sealed the set by 29-27.
For the third time, Serbia broke free using the middle of the net, as Lisinac unfolded a great block over Vettori by 8-4. However, Italy narrowed the gap headed by Buti and Serbia failed a couple of times to open another close track (16-16). Atanasijevic confirmed himself as the key man for Serbia at 21-20, Milos Nikic joined afterwards and a triple block over Jiri Kovar wrapped up the game by 25-22.
Australia: Peacock (2), White (7), Zingel (8), Edgar (22), Roberts (4), Passier (6), Perry (L) and Smith, Douglas-Powell (4), Caroll (2), Sukochev, Mote Iran: Marouf (1), Mirzajanpour (6), Mousavi (8), Ghafour (22), Ghaemi (15), Tashakori (2), Zarif (L) and Mahdavi, Mahmoudi, Ebadipour (8), Gholami (2)
Iran romped to an 8-5 lead over Australia in the first set, but the latter started a chase to cut down the lead at the second technical timeout 16-15. Iran regained its composure and brought their lead up to 22-18 that prompted Australia coach Jon Uriarte to call a timeout.
Australia had some more tricks in their bag that foiled the Iranian run to end the set and kept the score close at 24-23 in favour of Iran. In the end, the Australian defence could not hold on to the strong presence of Seyed Mohammad Mousavi Eraghi at the net, as the Iranian middle finished with a quick hit to finally close the set 25-23.
Iran were challenged early in the second set by the Australians that put the former ahead with a two-point lead 13-11. Uriarte called his team to the bench as they encountered some difficulty on their defence that allowed the Iranian frontliners to catch a couple points on the run to extend the score to 21-18. Only an exchange of points by both squads but Iran still managed to clinch the set 25-21.
Australia started with a renewed vigour in the third set and led 7-4. Iran called for a timeout that worked wonders for the Iranian side to close the gap at the second technical timeout 16-14. Australia played better in all departments especially in their serve and attack, while Iran struggled on their counter-attack. Aidan Zingel raised the lead 21-15 for Australia and another superb hit by Thomas Edgar sent the crowd cheering for Australian set ball 24-18. Farhad Ghaemi’s sensational serves did not allow the Australians to secure the set and even narrowed the gap to 24-21 but a net touch by Iran handed the second set to Australia 25-21.
Iran set their course on track again in the fourth set for the 8-5 and 16-8 leads at the two technical timeouts. Australia could not make any shift in momentum and the match ended in Iran’s favour 25-17.
A good service sequence from Holt strengthened USA and Anderson smashed a great counterattack at 13-10. That three-point gap persisted with Anderson in top form (9 points in first set), but Poland reacted a while later. Winiarski pressured with his serves and Michał Kubiak joined from the front positions, to create a thrilling closure (24-24). However, two consecutive errors made the local efforts useless as USA clinched the set 29-27.
Both teams fought in defence as the second set went on really tight. Even though USA had a higher error rate, a sharp ace by setter Micah Christenson – confirmed by video challenge, gave shape to a 16-14 for the away team. Middle-blockers took the stage for both teams as the game remained close, but with USA always in control. Sander and Holt attacked the way for the American side and Lee hammered the 25-22.
However, Poland rebounded and this time was able to seize some American mistakes, for an 11-8 board, and afterwards the home squad nailed several diagonal spikes to advance to 16-13. The 2nd TTO sparked USA back to life and Sander nailed an ace in the sideline to push his side in front (17-16), but Poland was decided to not give up. USA leveled the game once again at 23-23 with Lotman’s clever serves, but the hosts kept control in another nail-biting finish. Marcin Możdżonek took the floor twice and spiked for a hard-fought 27-25.
Możdżonek delighted the crowd with a superb block over Lee as Poland jumped ahead also in the fourth set. USA answered with Anderson at the helm and built a 14-12 lead, but serves from Winiarski and Karol Klos gave a headache to the American passing line and Poland climbed back to 16-15. The match entered a point-by-point basis that was nearly untouchable towards the end. Sander held the attack, Christenson created the gap at 24-21 and, after a final struggle from Poland, Anderson materialised the 25-23.