Brazil
The first set was close. Leandro Vissotto and Lucas Saatkamp hit kills for the South Americans, while Sasa Starovic, Marko Podrascanin and Dragan Stankovic spiked for Serbia. But with Nikola Kovacevic and his brother Uros also firing, Serbia took the first set 25-22.
Brazil edged ahead in the second set when Murilo Endres and Dante Amaral joined forces with Saatkamp and Vissotto to give Brazil a healthy lead, and they ran away with the set, 25-15.
The teams traded blows in the third set and tied 10-10. Aleksandar Atanasijevic performed well for Serbia, while Brazilian libero Sergio Santos pulled off some great defensive moves and Sidnei dos Santos Junior spiked well. But Marko Podrascanin’s blocking and spiking influence was telling as Serbia won the set 25-20.
In the fourth set Brazil started stronger, with Wallace de Souza playing a key role. Serbia spiked better, but also made more errors, and Wallace’s brilliance gave Brazil the set 25-22.
The final set mirrored the fourth, with Serbian errors and the spiking of Wallace and dos Santos the difference. Brazil suddenly looked a class above the Serbs, and took the set 15-9, and the match.
Brazil, who have three wins and one defeat, meet Germany in their final group match on Monday, while Serbia play Russia.
All the results from Olympic matches can be found here:
Volleyball – Men Volleyball – Women
