Australia
This year’s FIVB World Men’s Volleyball World Cup in Japan has brought so many surprising results in these three days of the 12-team round-robin competition. The latest occurred in Nagano: Australia recorded their first-ever victory against Russia since they first met in 1998! The fact that “Zbornaya” head coach Tuomas Sammelvuo took a combined squad to the tournament does not diminish the success of Australia who trailed by a 2-1 in sets in the match that lasted 2 hours and 12 minutes: 3-2 (25-16, 22-25, 26-28, 25-21, 15-12).
Curtis Stockton, who competed in the French Division 2 last season, shone for Australia with 19 points. Ivan Iakovlev tallied 15 points for the losing side of which 7 came from the block. Russia’s backup outside hitter Anton Semyshev got injured by landing awkwardly after a spike at the beginning of the fourth set and will likely miss the next match. This was Russia’s first defeat and Australia’s first win in the event.
Italy made their first success at the World Cup. The “Azzurri” turned the match against Argentina in Fukuoka into their favor after being two sets down: 3-2 (26-28, 17-25, 25-12, 25-18, 15-10). This match lasted 2 minutes longer than Australia vs. Russia.
The entrance of Cavuto in the finish of the second set and Candellaro in the third set started the engines of an Italian team. Gabriele Nelli finished the match as the top scorer for the winning side with 23 points. Matteo Piano and Riccardo Sbertoli made 4 kill blocks apiece. Bruno Lima and Ezequiel Palacios scored 16 points each for Argentina.
USA-vs-Poland
In the clash of the two powerhouses in Fukuoka, the USA downed world champions Poland in four sets, partially 25-19, 25-20, 24-26 and 27-25. However, the match was marked with a shoulder injury of the U.S. backup outside hitter Thomas Jaeschke. He slid into the net pole while making a save in the very finish of the match.
Even the fact that Wilfredo León and Bartosz Kurek played together in the lineup for the first time in the national team did not help Poland avoid a defeat. Besides the Cuban-born superstar, the head coach Vital Heynen returned seven more players that competed at the 2019 EuroVolley to the squad. Matthew Anderson was on a high-level by chipping in 23 points for the USA. Maxwell Holt added 5 kill blocks. León scored 21 points for Poland.
Since Poland lost their match, Brazil and the most pleasant surprise of the 2019 World Cup, Egypt, fought each other on who will keep the perfect record after three days of the competition. The “Seleção” won the battle in Nagano in four sets and got isolated on the top of the standings despite one of their main weapons Lucarelli scored only one point, none from the attack (0/8)! And he played as a starter in three out of four sets… Yoandy Leal scored game-high 22 points. Ahmed Abdelhay “Salah” notched 12 for Egypt.
Sharone Vernon-Evans from Canada became the best scorer on Day 3, but even 24 points (62.9% attack; 22/35) that he poured in against Iran did not help his side record a victory: 1-3. Japan swept Tunisia in straight sets with Yuji Nishida scoring 17 points.
2019 FIVB World Men’s Volleyball World Cup – Day 3:
Iran – Canada 3-1 (18-25, 25-23, 27-25, 25-19)
Argentina – Italy 2-3 (28-26, 25-27, 12-25, 18-25, 10-15)
Russia – Australia 2-3 (16-25, 25-22, 28-26, 21-25, 12-15)
USA – Poland 3-1 (25-19, 25-20, 24-26, 27-25)
Brazil – Egypt 3-1 (25-19, 21-25, 25-19, 25-22)
Japan – Tunisia 3-0 (25-23, 25-21, 25-11)
Standings
