Poland's win over Italy has put them one step closer to a place at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games
Tokyo, Japan, September 22, 2015 – Three teams will go into the final day of the FIVB Volleyball Men’s World Cup Japan 2015 with Rio 2016 Olympic Games qualification on their mind as Italy, USA and Poland all sealed wins on Tuesday to set up what will be a thrilling finish in Tokyo.
All three will go into the final day in search of a victory, with Poland and Italy’s clash now carrying huge significance. Poland are on 10 wins, meaning two sets against their Italian rivals will see them finish in the top two. USA will need to beat Argentina should Italy beat Poland earlier in the day to guarantee themselves a place at next year’s Olympics.
Japan gave Poland a fright before the current table-toppers picked up a 3-1 (24-26, 27-25, 25-21, 25-19) victory. Bartosz Kurek may have topped the scorers for his side with 18 points, but Michal Kubiak’s introduction midway through the match and Pawel Zatorski’s efforts in defence lifted Poland as they sealed their tenth win in Japan. Yuki Ishikawa notched 24 points for Japan.
USA ensured they would be in the fight for an Olympic spot until the last minute with a dominating straight sets (25-23, 26-24, 25-17) win over a demoralised Russia. Once again, USA’s wide range of attack proved decisive with Aaron Russell contributing 15 points to the win.
Three Osmany Juantorena aces at the start of the fifth set proved vital as Italy survived a tough challenge from Argentina, picking up a 3-2 (22-25, 25-20, 25-21, 20-25, 16-14) win. Juantorena scored 26 points, with Ivan Zaytsev on 25 as the world No.4 stayed in the hunt for a top two finish. Argentina’s hopes however are now all but over.
Egypt picked up their second win of the tournament, beating Venezuela 3-1 (25-18, 20-25, 25-18, 25-20). Ahmed Abdelhay was once again the brunt of Egypt’s attack with 15 points. Setter Hossam Abdalla earned the Most Impressive Player award, his well-spread plays keeping Venezuela guessing for much of the match.
Canada piled on the misery for Iran as they claimed a straight sets (25-23, 29-27, 26-24) win over their Asian rivals. The victory – Canada’s fourth – meant they leapfrogged Iran in the tables to go seventh. John Gordon Perrin and Justin Duff both led Glenn Hoag's side on 13 and 12 points respectively.
Australia needed little effort to claim their third victory at the tournament with a 3-0 (25-19, 25-17, 25-19) win over Tunisia. Australia captain Thomas Edgar managed 17 attacks and three blocks to win the Most Impressive Player award. Samuel Walker helped out with 11 more points for coach Roberto Santilli’s squad.
Top Scorer by Day26 – 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
26 – Osmany Juantorena v Argentina on September 22
Top Individual Serving Performances6 – 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
Top Team Serving Performances13 – 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
9 – Italy v Argentina on September 22
Top Individual Blocking Performances8 – Sebastien Sole of Argentina v Iran on September 8
Top Team Blocking Performances16 – 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
Highest Scoring Sets32-34 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
Highest Scoring Matches245 – 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
213 – Italy d Argentina 3-2 (22-25, 25-20, 25-21, 20-25, 16-14) on September 22
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