FRA vs. SRB
Both teams fired cannonballs from a service line at start of Set 1, with aces from Rouzier and Petrić, 5-5. Serbian players were mostly aiming Ngapeth with their serves, cutting him off attack. It was worth it 8-7.
But, Rouzier took over and exactly at the half of Set 1, France made a decisive gap 16-13 with 3-0 run when Le Roux blocked Atanasijević. At 19-15, Serbian coach Grbić had to call a time-out.
He shook up his protégés, Atanasijević poured three superstrong serves and totally disturbed French reception – Serbia got 4-0 run, 20-20. But, France responded with 3-0 run thanks to Rouzier’s powerful serves. Le Goff and Tillie were in charge to tipover balls after poor Serbian reception. It was all over in this set 25-22.
At start of Set 2, Serbia blocked superbly. They even managed to ground Ngapeth twice in a row, 7-7. Still, Toniutti’s settings were incredible as he was often leaving his teammates one-on-one in attack 14-12.
Ngapeth regained his recognizable play, Rouzier kept momentum from the start of the match and France soon went up 19-15. Serbia couldn’t reach that gap until the end despite approaching to 23-22. Set 2 finished with 25-23.
Block was the main weapon of Serbia in Set 3. Combined with powerful serves and Uroš Kovačević’s clever attacks, Serbian national team had 6-1. Kovačević continued to bomb French receivers along with Atanasijević and Serbia were 16-7 ahead, routinely finishing this set, 25-14.
French team established dominance from the first point in Set 3, 5-2, 7-4, 10-5. Rouzier and Ngapeth were infallible at offense 16-12. Two key moments occured at 18-14 (Rouzier converted counter attack) and 19-16 (Kovačević blocked).
The point of the match was at 24-17 when Ngapeth had surreal save from the hall entrance!!! Serbia approached to 24-20, but Rouzier smashed the ball for 25-20.
Top scorers: France – Antonin Rouzier 20 pts., Earvin Ngapeth 16; Serbia – Aleksandar Atanasijević 16, Nemanja Petrić 10.
FINAL ROUND / QUARTERFINALS /
| Game | Date/Time | Teams | Set | Result per set | Stats | Videos | ||
| Quarterfinal 1 | 14. 10. 2015 | France | vs | Serbia | 3:1 | 25:22; 25:23; 14:25; 25:20 | ||
| Quarterfinal 2 | 14. 10. 2015 | Poland | vs | Slovenia | 2:3 | 17:25; 19:25; 25:23; 25:19; 14:16 | ||
| Quarterfinal 3 | 14. 10. 2015 | Russia | vs | Italy | 0:3 | 20:25; 19:25; 19:25 | ||
| Quarterfinal 4 | 14. 10. 2015 | Bulgaria | vs | Germany | 3:0 | 25:19; 25:23; 25:23 | ||
To see standings, results, stats, videos, etc, visit our EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP 2015 M page.
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