Fans in Osaka saw a tremendous five-setter, but local fans will have been unhappy with the score as Iran saw of the hosts
Osaka, Japan, September 18, 2015 – The second round of the FIVB Volleyball Men’s World Cup Japan 2015 reached its conclusion in Toyama and Osaka on Friday, with no change at the top as several teams remain in contention for a Rio 2016 Olympic Games spot.
USA and Poland stay in control on eight wins with Russia and Italy staying close on seven. Argentina and Japan are on six and five respectively as action moves to Tokyo, with many key matches yet to be played.
Iran came out on top in an epic encounter with hosts Japan, recovering from two sets down to edge the match 3-2 (22-25, 23-25, 25-18, 25-21, 15-12). A total of 13 Iran blocks to Japan’s six, as well as 33 mistakes for the home side made the difference as the world No.11 claimed their third win of the tournament.
Bartosz Kurek picked up a fourth most impressive player award of the tournament as his 21 point contribution helped Poland clinch a straight sets victory (25-15, 25-22, 25-17) over Australia in the shortest match of the tournament so far at 1 hour 20 minutes. The win means they remain unbeaten on eight wins while Australia travel to Tokyo with just one victory.
The United States ended their stay in Osaka with another triumph as they rolled Tunisia in straight sets (25-14, 25-19, 29-27). The African side rarely looked like challenging the current table-toppers, despite some promising play at the end of the third set, and USA will move into the final round high on confidence having dropped just two sets all tournament. Matt Anderson led the scorers on 22 points.
Dmitriy Muserskiy saved Russia in the second set as they defeated Egypt 3-0 (25-20, 26-24, 25-18). A dig and an ace from the star helped Vladimir Alekno’s side maintain control as Maxim Mikhaylov bested all scorers in the match with 16 points. Ahmed Abdelhay led the Egyptian side with 15 markers.
Venezuela’s late fightback in the third set was not enough to stop Italy claiming a seventh win, closing the match in straight sets (25-16, 25-22, 25-18). It was an error-filled match, with Italy making 25 mistakes and Venezuela 29. Filippo topped the scores on 15 points.
Finally, Facundo Conte connected his side with a sixth victory as they held off Canada 3-1 (25-21, 23-25, 29-27, 25-22). The 26-year-old picked up 25 points to win the most impressive player award. Daniel Cornelius Jansen Vandoorn was the top scorer for Canada with 20 points.
Top Scorer by Day
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
Top Individual Serving Performances
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
Top Team Serving Performances
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
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
Top Individual Blocking Performances
8 – Sebastien Sole of Argentina v Iran on September 8
Top Team Blocking Performances
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
Highest Scoring Sets
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
Highest Scoring Matches
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
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