On Tuesday started men’s World Grand Champions Cup. In last 2 days, best teams played in Kyoto. Today we have rest day, teams move to Tokyo. After 2 games played by each team, leader with full set of point are “Canarinhos” coached by Bernardinho.
Day 1:
ITALY – RUSSIA 3-1 (28-26 25-20 19-25 27-25) MVP: Dragan Travica
Italy: Travica (4), Lanza (13), Birarelli (9), Zaytsev (20), Kovar (9), Piano (7), Rossini (L) and Dolfo, Berretta (1)
Russia: Grankin (2), Spiridonov (12), Muserskiy (17), Pavlov (11), Sivozhelez (4), Apalikov (7), Ermakov (L) and Mikhaylov (6), Ilinykh (8)
Despite not having much time to work with their coach prior to the competition, Italy looked sharp early with stuff blocks from Lanza and Emanuele Birarelli early to frustrate the Russians, jumping ahead 5–1. But Russia eventually put together a good run mid-set to draw within one at 15–14, Alexey Spiridonov winning a tough joust at the net. The towering Muserskiy would later give his team a literal kickstart, saving a point with his foot to help Russia tie at 20–20. Spiridonov’s fifth score gave Russia a set point, but Italy’s Dragan Travica brought his side back with an ace, and a Zaytsev (six points in the set) block stuff stole the first set for the Italians 28–26 on their third set point.
The second set again saw Italy more composed than their counterparts early, edging ahead 9–5 after some costly Russian errors. Again Russia stuck close, pulling within one at 10–9. But the Italians jumped back ahead just as quick powered by the fierce attacking Filippo Lanza (five points in the set) whose hard spike gave his side a commanding 21–15 lead. Maxim Mikhaylov brought some spark of the bench for Russia, but Italy stuck it out, taking the second set 25–20.
But Italy appeared to lose momentum in the third, as strong serving from Nikolay Apalikov put Russia ahead, his ace making it 12–7. Strong attacking from Mikhaylov and Dmitriy Ilinykh helped Russia keep their lead, their defenders also managing to keep an aggressive Zaytsev under wraps. Another ace from Sergey Grankin gave Russia set point at 24–18, and from there they would take the third set 25–19, but still down two sets to one.
But ultimately it was Italy who would make less mistakes, and with a sensational block by their captain Emanuele Birarelli on the explosive Mikhaylov, followed by a hard Lanza spike, the Italians were way ahead 10–3. Russia’s Pavlov countered with strong attacking of his own from the wing, but two scores from Italy’s Thomas Beretta off the bench had Russia on the brink 20–14. But Russia showed resilience, scoring six straight to tie at 20–20. But it proved a little too late, as Zaytsev kicked his attack into high gear, scoring a pair of critical points late, to help his side win 27–25, 3 sets to 1.
Team Stats:
ActionsSpike pointsSpike %BlockServeDigsRec
NoteErrItaly5047%941725%29Russia5848%63932%36
Team Leaders:
ActionsPointsSpike ptsSpike %BlockAceErrorsIvan Zaytsev201849%117Dmitriy Muserskiy171689%107
IRAN – BRAZIL 1-3 (16-25 17-25 27-25 23-25) MVP: Bruno Rezende
Iran: Marouflakrani (2), Zarini (5), Mousavi (8), Ghafour (15), Ghaemi (6), Gholami (8), Zarif (L) and Mahmoudi (4), Mahdavi, Mobasheri (7), Davoodi, Tashakori
Brazil: Bruno, Lucarelli (11), Lucas (9), Wallace (19), Mauricio Borges (16), Sidão (15), Mario Junior (L) and Evandro (3), Raphael
Both sides were fired up to start this contest, with Ricardo Lucarelli Santos De Souza bringing high flying attacks up front for Brazil, while Amir Ghafour and Hamzeh Zarini countered strong for Iran. But it was Brazil’s Sidão who pushed his side ahead with a stubborn stuff block on an attacking Zarini to make it 9–6, and serving very well to extend to 14–9. From there, Brazil cruised with an evenly distributed attack, blocking well throughout, capped by an incredible stuff by Lucas Saatkamp on Iran’s Farhad Ghaemi, taking the set 25–16.
The second set saw both teams stumble out of the gate, with a number of lead changes. Iran edged ahead 13–12 on a furious kill by Mousavi Eraghi, but the Brazilians appeared to take offense, responsing with a six point run capped by a stuff block and a hard spike by Lucas to make it 18–13. Lucarelli’s pipe attack gave Brazil set point at 24–17, and from there Sidão served it out with an ace, taking the second set 25–17 (2–0).
Iran looked serious to start the third however, with attacks from Mousavi Eraghi and Mobasheri Demneh putting them up 7–4. But Brazil, despite a flurry of errors, hung close, and eventually edging past Iran, again thanks to Sidão, who put his third block stuff on Demneh and followed with a spike to make it 14–12. Brazil kept the lead until late when they had a suddenly lapse in composure that let Iran tie it up. Iran showed incredible persistence, going ahead on an ace by Ghafour, 22–21. Brazil rebounded but squandered two set points before a pair of Iranian blocks by Ghaemi and Gholami stole the third set from the Brazilians 27–25, Iran down two sets to one.
Ghaemi continued to frustrate Brazil in the fourth, planting a blistering ace behind the South Americans to edge ahead 10–9. And despite a number of mistakes on their part, Brazil jumped back ahead thanks to three consecutive kills from Lucarelli, but gave the lead right back as a mis-cue between Bruno Mossa Rezende and Sidão made it 18–17 for Iran. But the difference in this set would be Brazil’s Mario Da Silva Pedreira Junior, whose incredible pancake save late led to a spike to make it 23–22 for his side. From there Brazil took the set 25–23, and the match 3–1, on a hard spike from Evandro M. Guerra.
Team Stats:
ActionsSpike pointsSpike %BlockServeDigsRec
NoteErrIran4338%933650%27Brazil5854%1234749%28
Team Leaders:
ActionsPointsSpike ptsSpike %BlockAceErrorsAmir Ghafour151135%3111Wallace De Souza191950%0012
UNITED STATES – JAPAN 3-1 (25-17 25-17 21-25 25-20) MVP: Matthew Anderson
USA: Christenson (5), Anderson (21), Lee (10), Menzel (14), Priddy (7), Holt (18), E. Shoji (L) and K. Shoji
Japan: Imamura, Fukuzawa (12), Matsumoto (5), Shimizu (7), Koshikawa (5), Yamamura (1), Nagano (L) and Kondoh (1), Yokota (6), Ishijima (4), Chijiki (2), Yoneyama (1)
The USA got the block party going right out of the gate, with David Lee and Reid Priddy frustrating Kunihiro Shimizu on three consecutive points to go up 8–3. A powerful Jeffrey Menzel spike down center put the USA in total control at 17–8, and despite some excitement off the bench from Japan’s Yusuke ‘Gottsu’ Ishijima, the host side couldn’t get much rolling. Anderson pitched in two hard spikes to put his side ahead 21–12, and from there the captain Reid Priddy closed it out with a cross-court smash, 25–18, taking the first set.
The USA carried this momentum into the second set, posting 7 uninterrupted points until a Shimizu spike made it 7–1. The Kyoto fans lent their support with chants of ‘Gori! Gori!’ a reference to the southpaw’s famously long arms. This seemed to briefly energize the home team in the middle of the set, as Tatsuya Fukuzawa and Yuta Yoneyama found some daylight between the USA block to make it 15–8. But the USA lead proved insurmountable, as Holt helped close the set with a stunning block stuff on a flying Fukuzawa to make it 23–16, and then a hard kill to finish it 25–17, two sets zero.
To the delight of the home crowd, Japan did get out in front of the USA in the third set, sparked by an enthusiastic Kazuyoshi Yokota who delivered some smart play at the net, helping his team ahead 10–5. One of the highlights of the set came when Shigeru Kondoh posted a block on an attacking Priddy to make it 15–11, but Priddy – no stranger to the highlight reel himself – fired right back, unfazed, on the next point for a kill. Japan was fortunate late in the set, withstanding an offensive onslaught from Matt Anderson, whose four points brought the USA within two at 23–21. But Fukuzawa would shut him down on set point, with a block stuff to take the set 25–21 (two sets to one for the USA).
Fukuzawa put his side up 2–0 with an ace to start the fourth set, but Holt responded for the USA with more spectacular blocking, posting his sixth and seventh block stuffs consecutively to go ahead 4–2. He’d put his eight on a frustrated Gottsu to make it 13–9, but Koshikawa brought Japan back to within one with an ace and a spike, 17–16. But Micah Christenson’s third block of the match, on Gottsu, put the USA ahead 20–17, and from there they would close it out on an Anderson score, 25–20.
Team Stats:
ActionsSpike pointsSpike %BlockServeDigsRec
NoteErrUSA5549%1734052%34Japan3534%734425%21
Team Leaders:
ActionsPointsSpike ptsSpike %BlockAceErrorsMatthew Anderson211946%0212Tatsuya Fukuzawa12947%219
Day 2:
ITALY – IRAN 2-3 (24-26 25-16 23-25 25-23 12-15) MVP: Adel Gholami
Italy: Baranowicz (4), Lanza (14), Birarelli (10), Zaytsev (14), Kovar (17), Beretta (8), Rossini (L) and Dolfo, Piano, Vettori (14)
Iran: Marouflakrani (2), Zarini (6), Mousavi (17), Mahmoudi (16), Ghaemi (9), Gholami (7), Zarif (L) and Davoodi (1), Mobasheri (3), Mirzajanpour (5), Mahdavi
Iran served up trouble for the Italians early in the first, with a pair of aces from Farhad Ghaemi and Adel Gholami putting their side ahead 6–2 forcing Italy into a timeout to regroup. They came back onto the court refocused, and hung close until late, when a Ghaemi stuff on Italy captain Emanuele Birarelli helped spark a five-point run to give Iran a 23–19 advantage. Italy rallied with great blocking from Michele Baranowicz and Birarelli, but Iran would capitalize on their third set point, with Gholami putting a stuff right back on Italy’s Baranowicz, 26–24, one set to zero.
The second set was equally competitive in the early stages, with multiple attacks from Italy’s Ivan Zaytsev and and Iran’s Mousavi Eraghi canceling each other out. But a few misfires at the net by Iran’s Ghaemi gave Italy the momentum to pull off a six-point run to go head 14–8. A Jiri Kovar block on Rahman Davoodi, who came in off the bench for Iran, extended Italy’s lead to 20–12. But more scoring from Zaytsev and Birarelli (five points each in the set) would take the second set for the Italians, a kill from the latter making it 25–16, one set apiece.
In the third set, Thomas Beretta got his game going, edging Italy ahead 9–6 with an ace, following with a hard spike, and then block on Mousavi Eraghi to make it 15–12 for the Italians. With both sides defending well, it was Italy who lapsed first with a pair of errant attacks from Birarelli letting Iran ahead 23–22, and that was all the Asian champs needed, as Mahmoudi’s eleventh score of the match took the third set 25–23.
Iran’s Mousavi Eraghi showed why he deserves to be mentioned among the world’s best blockers, with three straight stuffs putting his side up 5–1 to open the fourth set. But Italy powered back with aggressive serving from Luca Vettori (off the bench) and Kovar who combined for an amazing five aces to help Italy jump back ahead 12–8. Iran battled back to tie 21–21, but Italy would narrowly take this set 25–23, thanks to great defensive hustle by the libero Salvatore Rossini who set up Kovar for a score, evening the match at two sets each.
Iran looked sharp in the tie-break with Mousavi Eraghi continuing his great play with a pair of kills and an ace to take a 7–4 lead. Italy responded by hammering away on the right side with Vettori with some success, but Mousavi Eraghi finally shut him down with his seventh block to make it 12–7, and then again with his eighth to give match point at 14–10. A Mahmoudi spike would then clinch the set 15–12, and the match 3–2.
Team Stats:
ActionsSpike pointsSpike %BlockServeDigsRec
NoteErrItaly6145%1193825%39Iran4439%1483332%28
Team Leaders:
ActionsPointsSpike ptsSpike %BlockAceErrorsJiri Kovar171243%239Mohammad Mousavi17758%827
BRAZIL – UNITED STATES 3-0 (31-29 25-23 25-23) MVP: Mauricio Borges
Brazil: Bruno (3), Lucarelli (7), Lucas (8), Wallace (12), Mauricio Borges (13), Sidão (9), Mario Junior (L) and Evandro (4), Raphael, Mauricio Souza
USA: Christenson (4), Rooney (10), Lee (4), Anderson (17), Priddy (10), Holt (8), E. Shoji (L) and K. Shoji (1)
Brazil pressured the USA with aggressive serving to start what would be an epic first set, edging ahead 10–6 with Ricardo Lucarelli and Mauricio performing well. The USA would rally close, but Matt Anderson had difficulty finding his rhythm against the Brazilian blockers, his errant spike giving the South Americans a 20–16 advantage. Sean Rooney compensated on the right side, but Brazil moved ahead late to grab set point 24–22. But the Americans didn’t go without a fight, turning away five set points by the Brazilians, with Kawika Shoji defending well. But it was Brazil’s Wallace who stepped up for his side, with a kill to deny the USA’s second set point, and another to give them the advantage they needed to close, 31–29, one set to zero.
The teams were equally close through the second, exchanging points until they reached 9–9. But the USA would take seven of the next nine points to make it 16–11 at the second TTO, led by Reid Priddy and Micah Christenson who were serving well, each with an ace. Brazil rallied back to tie at 20–20, with a stunning block by Evandro Guerra off the bench on Anderson on the wing. Sidão gave Brazil set point 24–23 with a hard block on Rooney, and that led to a score by the captain, Bruno Mossa Rezende, after a wonderful get by Mario Da Silva Pedreira Junior. Rezende then leaped joyously into Mario’s arms to celebrate having taken two difficult sets from the tough Americans.
Both sides showed signs of fatigue early in the third, with a number of errors on both sides, as they edged out together to 10–10. Brazil held a 16–14 lead at the second TTO, and held a slim lead until Anderson drew the USA even with a kill, and then ahead 23–22 with a block stuff. But Brazil’s Lucarelli would have his revenge, putting a block of his own on Anderson on match point to give another hard fought set to Brazil, 25–23, and the match 3–0.
Team Stats:
ActionsSpike pointsSpike %BlockServeDigsRec
NoteErrBrazil4344%1032560%21USA4343%652834%25
Team Leaders:
ActionsPointsSpike ptsSpike %BlockAceErrorsMauricio Borges131053%216Matthew Anderson171342%3110
RUSSIA – JAPAN 3-0 (25-16 25-17 25-18) MVP: Alexey Spiridonov
Russia: Grankin (4), Spiridonov (10), Muserskiy (7), Mikhaylov (9), Ilinykh (12), Apalikov (6), Ermakov (L) and Ashchev (6)
Japan: Imamura (1), Fukuzawa (1), Matsumoto (1), Ishijima (1), Koshikawa (7), Yokota (3), Nagano (L) and Shimizu (14), Kondoh (2), Yoneyama (3), Toimoto (1)
Russia didn’t give an inch to Japan to start this match, with no Japanese player scoring a point until Kazuyoshi Yokota hit a hard spike down center to make it 11-4. Russian attackers Spiridonov, Dmitriy Muserskiy, and Maxim Mikhaylov were a handful for the Japan defense, and the home team just couldn’t come up with an answer. Kazuyoshi Yokota tried a heated attack of his own, but Russia defended it well and with Spiridonov fired it back just as quick to go ahead 21-12. They’d cruise from there to take the first set 25-16.
Japan managed to stay a little closer to Russia in the second, although Russia’s big man Muserskiy did his best to spoil their efforts, delivering a blistering jump serve for an ace to make it 9-4. The Russian attack was frustrated momentarily mid-set by Yoshihiko Matsumoto and Shimizu, who put consecutive block stuffs on Ilinykh for scores to make it 15-10. From there Japan did find some rhythm, but the deficit was too big. A hard Spiridonov spike nearly knocked over Yoneyama, making it 23-16, a point symbolic of the punishment Japan was taking in the match. Mikhaylov underscored the message with a vicious cross-court kill to take the set 25-17.
Shigeru Kondoh was serving well for Japan in the third set, with an early ace to help keep his side closer than in the previous two sets. He followed up with a clever setter dump to pull within one point of Russia at 10-9. But Russia rolled on from there, taking eight of the next ten points to go ahead 17-11 on a run capped by consecutive blocks from Andrey Ashchev and Sergey Grankin. It was easy sailing from there, as they closed it out 25-18 without much difficulty.
Team Stats:
ActionsSpike pointsSpike %BlockServeDigsRec
NoteErrRussia3459%1552545%17Japan2736%522350%21
Team Leaders:
ActionsPointsSpike ptsSpike %BlockAceErrorsDmitriy Ilinykh12945%307Kunihiro Shimizu141148%308
Standings:
RankTeamWin/LossSetsSmall PointsPoints1.Brazil2/06-1181-15862.Italy1/15-4208-20143.Russia1/14-3171-15034.USA1/13-4171-16035.Iran1/14-5188-20926.Japan0/21-6130-1710
Descriptions: FIVB
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