The Argentinean team
A total of four players from Argentina finished the game in double figures, with Federico Pereyra and Rodrigo Quiroga contributing 17 apiece, while Facundo Conte and Sebastian Solé added 16 and 10 to the tally of the South Americans. Even though they played below the standards of their previous matches, still Bulgaria had the best scorer of the game on their side with Tsvetan Sokolov (25), but Argentina was superior in all fundamentals, with Quiroga contributing five out of 11 aces. Via this win Argentina also improved on its Olympic record with Bulgaria, moving up to 2 wins and 1 loss.
The first set began competitively, with Argentina establishing a healthy lead as Sebastian Solé, Rodrigo Quiroga, Facundo Conte and Federico Pereyra all grounded spikes. Todor Skrimov hit back for Bulgaria, but was not getting enough support from the rest of the team. Argentina took the set 25-18.
Bulgaria‘s key man Tsvetan Sokolov got more court time in the second set and his influence immediately counted as Bulgaria moved ahead. Quiroga and Pereyra helped Argentina stay in touch, but as Viktor Yosifov contributed points, Bulgaria won 25-21.
The third set was very level, but Argentina got the edge through making fewer mistakes and being more clinical with their spikes. Quiroga, Conte and Pereyra stood out again. Bulgaria saved two set points before a Pereyra kill grabbed the set 25-19.
Pablo Crer joined Solé and Conte in helping establish a fourth-set lead for Argentina. Sokolov and Todor Aleksiev worked hard for Bulgaria, but Argentina’s varied play and fewer errors gave them the set 25-20, and the match.
Bulgaria, with three wins and a loss, play Italy in their final preliminary match on Monday, August 6. Argentina, who have won two and lost two, will come up against hosts Great Britain.
All the results from Olympic matches can be found here:
Volleyball – Men Volleyball – Women
