LA RUSSIA UMILIA IL GIAPPONE
Vittoria inutile per la Russia che nelle semifinali per il 5° posto incontrerà gli azzurri
Sendai, Japan, November 29, 2006: Russia recovered from their traumatic 3-2 defeat by Poland the previous day to bring Pool E to a close with a thumping 3-0 victory over Japan on Wednesday night.
The Russians, who were eliminated from semi-final contention on Tuesday, came home 25-20, 25-18, 25-20 to improve their win-loss record to 5-2 and drop Japan to 4-3.Before the last match in the second round at Sendai City Gymnasium even started, both teams knew they would be in the 5-8 classification play-offs when the 24-team championship reaches its conclusion in Tokyo on December 2-3.Russia reached the first technical break with a two-point lead, 8-6.It was clear from the opening exchanges that Japan were going to have work extra hard to score past such a tall defence, and both Takahiro Yamamoto and Nobuharu Saito found themselves on the end of some shuddering blocks In attack, Alexey Kuleshov was dangerous at the net, and Stanislav Dineykin and Alexander Kosarev out wide.Kuleshov blasted another winner to move his team ahead 12-9, but Yusuke Ishijima was using his quick volleyball brain as well as his bulk and power to keep the points ticking over for the home side. Japan were defending heroically against Russia's heavy artillery, but the big guns pounded relentlessly to eventually find a way through.Masaji Ogino capitalised on an agile set from the off-balance Kosuke Tomonaga, and Japan were still in the picture at 16-14 down for the second TTO.When Alexander Volkov swatted an easy winner at the net for 18-14, Japan called the first TO of the match, but were greeted on the resumption by another huge winner from Alexander Korneev which flew off a defender and spun into the stands.At 22-15, Japan sent on Ryuji Naohiro for fellow southpaw Yamamoto, and the newcomer rose on the right and blasted into space to reduce Japan's deficit to 22-17.Dineykin brought up set point at 24-18 with a flashing winner down the right, but Russia had to wait a while to end the set when an Ishijima rocket serve scored a point and knocked the line judge off his feet in the process, 24-20. The next serve flew into the net and the first set belonged to Russia, 25-20.
Despite some spectacular defence from Ogino and his teammates, Japan could not prevent Russia's "Big Blue" from opening up a 5-2 lead in the second set, resulting in a hasty Japan TO.
Ogino showed his quality in attack shortly after, pounding a clean winner from the left to close the gap to 5-4.
Russia led by two at the first TTO of the second set, when setter Sergei Makarov spiked quickly at the net as Japan's defence spread to prepare for another aerial bombardment.Ogino, at 36, was having another inspirational game for Japan, in attack and on serve reception, but the Russian block rejected Ishijima and Russia were pulling away at 13-8. Ishijima gave way to Yu Koshikawa.Korneev sprang on a bad set by Japan and cracked a winner at the net for 15-11, and Dineykin stroked a languid winner from the right, 16-12 at the second TTO. When Russia pulled away to 21-16 with more solid blocking, Japan called a TO. A Dineykin ace down the right side brought up set point at 24-17, and it was all over soon after, 25-18 and 2-0.
Super ace Yamamoto returned for the third set after sitting out the second, and Kota Yamamura found some space at the net for a rare clean strike.Russia were in no mood to hang around. Leading 7-4 in the third, their progress was halted by a Japan TO, and they were ahead by two at the first TTO. Yamamoto enjoyed limited success on Japan's right, and Koshikawa tried his best to build some attacking momentum, but Russia had too many aces in all areas of the court. Ahead 16-11 at the second technical break, the result was a formality.Japan's spiking became wild, and Ogino was replaced by Ishijima at 17-11. Kosarev spiked, Volkov blocked and world No. 3 Russia were in the clear, 25-20 for 3-0, despite a late rally from the home team which featured some fiery serving from Koshikawa and incredible digging and defence to keep the fans entertained to the last point.
La Russia durante un time out
Una schiacciata di Korneev :supz: :-D
Dineykin e Volkov murano Ishijima