Poland prevail to take control on first day of final round

Tokyo, Japan, September 21, 2015 – Poland now sit top of the FIVB Volleyball Men’s World Cup Japan 2015 standings after defeating USA, while Italy leapfrogged Russia into third as the first day of the final round drew to a close in Tokyo.

The world champions are now within touching distance of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, but with two matches left to go, nothing has been decided yet.

Despite the slow start, Poland showed what they are capable of in attack with a dominating 3-1 (17-25, 25-19, 25-23, 25-15) win over world No.5 USA. Michal Kubiak was on form, scoring 17 points and spearheading an efficient and deadly Polish offense. USA were shut down in their attacking game and coach John Speraw will have to regroup his squad quickly ahead of their clash with Russia on Tuesday.

A surprisingly poor performance from Russia meant they dropped a second match, this time in straight sets  (25-15, 26-24, 25-18) to Italy, to all but end their chances of finishing in the top two. They gave up more than a set’s worth of points in errors – 26 in total, as Ivan Zaytsev punished them with 20 points for Italy. The world No.4 also scored six aces to Russia’s zero.

Argentina earned their seventh victory of the tournament, beating Japan in straight sets (26-24, 25-22, 25-21) as Luciano De Cecco masterfully conducted proceedings. Japan were determined to stay in the fight, but it was Argentina’s superior blocking game – scoring 11 to the host’s three – that made the difference.

It was win number three for Canada, who registered a straight sets victory (25-18, 25-22, 25-23) over Venezuela. It was a well spread attack from the Canadians, with Gavin Schmitt taking 16 points and John Gordon Perrin 11.

Ahmed Abdelhay became the third-highest scorer in World Cup history as Egypt grabbed their first win of the tournament, beating Tunisia in five sets (23-25, 25-21, 23-25, 25-17, 15-11). The 31-year old scored 38 points as his side ended a seven-match losing streak in Japan. 

Australia sealed their second win of the tournament, beating Iran 3-0 (27-25, 27-25, 25-22). With record top scorer Thomas Edgar sitting out the match it was Paul Carroll who led the attack with a 24-point performance. The loss piles the pressure on Iran who have had, by their standards, a disappointing campaign in Japan.

26 – Facundo Conte of Argentina v Iran on September 8

36 – Abdelhay Ahmed of Egypt v Canada on September 9

24 – Ivan Zaytsev of Italy v Egypt on September 10

50 – Thomas Edgar of Australia v Egypt on September 12

26 – John Gordan Perrin of Canada v Australia on September 13

26 – Ivan Zaytsev of Italy v Iran on September 16

19 – Matt Anderson of USA v Iran and Facundo Conte of Argentina v Australia on September 17

26 – Facundo Conte of Argentina v Canada on September 18

38 – Ahmed Abdelhay v Tunisia on September 21

6 – Simone Gianelli of Italy v Australia on September 9

5 – Ivan Zaytsev of Italy v Japan on September 13

5 – Ahmed Abdelhay of Egypt v Japan on September 8

5 – Kunhiro Shimizu of Japan v Tunisia on September 16

5 – Bartosz Kurek of Poland v Australia on September 18

4 – Abou Mohamed of Egypt v Canada on September 9

4 – Matt Anderson of USA v Italy on September 12

4 – Aaron Russell of USA v Egypt on September 13

4 – Dawid Konarski of Poland v Venezuela on September 13

4 – Matt Anderson of USA v Venezuela on September 16

4 – Taylor Sander of USA v Venezuela on September 16

4 – Artem Volvich of Russia v Australia on September 16

4 – Aaron Russell of USA v Iran on September 17

4 – Hossam Abdalla of Egypt v Russia on September 18

4 – Ivan Zaytsev of Italy v Russia on September 21

4 – Mohammed Elhalim of Egypt v Tunisia on September 21

13 – Poland v Australia on September 18

12 – USA v Venezuela on September 16

11 – USA v Japan on September 9

11 – USA v Egypt on September 13

11 – Egypt v Tunisia on September 21

10 – Argentina v Venezuela on September 9

10 – USA v Australia on September 8

10 – Egypt v Japan on September 8

9 – Italy v Japan on September 13

9 – Egypt v Canada on September 9

9 – USA v Canada on September 10

9 – Russia v Argentina on September 12

9 – Poland v Venezuela on September 13

9 – Poland v Canada on September 16

9 – Russia v Egypt on September 18

9 – Poland v USA on September 21

8 – Sebastien Sole of Argentina v Iran on September 8

16 – Australia v Canada on September 13

15 – Iran v USA on September 17

15 – Argentina v Iran on September 8

14 – Canada v Australia on September 13

13 – Russia v Tunisia on September 10

13 – Australia v Japan on September 10

13 – Italy v Tunisia on September 17

13 – Argentina v Canada on September 18

13 – Iran v Japan on September 18

32-34 Canada v Australia (1st set) on September 13

33-31 Japan v Venezuela (1st set) on September 17

32-30 Venezuela v Argentina (1st set) on September 9

29-27 Russia v Venezuela (1st set) on September 8

29-27 Russia v Tunisia (3rd set) on September 10

29-27 USA v Italy (3rd set) on September 12)

29-27 Australia v Canada (4th set) on September 13

29-27 USA v Tunisia (3rd set) on September 18

29-27 Argentina v Canada (3rd set) on September 18

245 – Canada d Australia 3-2 (32-34, 25-14, 25-21, 27-29, 20-18) on September 13 *NEW WORLD CUP RECORD

219 – Australia d Egypt 3-2 (23-25, 26-24, 25-23, 20-25, 15-13) on September 12

218 – Canada d Egypt 3-2 (25-22, 25-23, 21-25, 24-26, 15-12) on September 9

216 – Venezuela d Tunisia 3-2 (19-25, 25-18, 22-25, 28-26, 15-13) on September 12

211 – Iran d Japan 3-2 (22-25, 23-25, 25-18, 25-21, 15-12) on September 18

210 – Egypt d Tunisia 3-2 (23-25, 25-21, 23-25, 25-17, 15-11) on September 21

202 – Poland d Iran 3-2 (18-25, 23-25, 25-15, 25-20, 15-11) on September 12

199 – Japan d Egypt 3-2 (25-19, 23-25, 25-18, 17-25, 15-7) on September 8

197 – Argentina d Canada 3-1 (25-21, 23-25, 29-27, 25-22) on September 18

189 – Poland d Venezuela 3-1 (25-27, 25-23, 25-16, 25-23) on September 13

185 – Poland d Argentina 3-1 (25-18, 19-25, 25-22, 27-25) on September 10

183 – Japan d Australia 3-1 (25-17, 25-21, 25-27, 25-18) on September 10