Tokyo, Japan, September 21, 2015 –
Egypt grabbed their first win in the FIVB Volleyball Men’s World Cup by besting Tunisia in the tie-breaker (23-25, 25-21, 23-25, 25-17, 15-11) at the Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium on Monday.
Ahmed Abdelhay was named the Most Impressive Player with 35 attacks and 3 service aces. Abdelhalim Mohamed Abou contributed another 15 markers.
Tunisia got an early 6-1 lead in the first set as they elicited errors from the other court. Omar Agrebi manned the middle, while Hamza Nagga stood from the flank.
Coach Fathi Mkaouar’s hitters were making the right decisions from the attack line as their opponents lapsed in reception.
Abdelhay started to manage from his spot at the wing but his efforts were not enough to stage an overtake. Ahmed Elkotb missed his serve and Egypt failed in the first set, 23-25.
By the second set, Egypt had shown that they could play better defence to create more opportunities from Abdelhay’s magic spot or from Abou’s position at middle.
Tunisia gained from Nagga’s attacks but not enough to avoid loss in the second set, 21-25.
Ismail Moalla spelled the difference for Tunisia in the third set as he provided firepower from the wing, from deflections and from the service line.
Abdelhay continued to dictate and define the Egyptian offence, but Tunisia endured at the end of the third set, 25-23.
While it was easy to conclude that Egypt will almost always set up Aldelhay for an attack, it was a challenge for Tunisia to break his pattern. The Egyptian captain went for point after point. Abou went for quick kills to enable Egypt to force a tie-breaker with 25-17 in the fourth set.
Abdelhay stayed true as Egypt’s chief slayer, firing away from both flanks.
Tunisia suffered dearly from their reception woes. They were unable to keep up with Egypt’s strong 15-11 finish in the fifth set.