Japan – Korea
The two victories are the first time Korea, who finished 14th last year having recorded only one win against Italy, has recorded back-to-back World League wins since June, 2011 when they beat France at home and puts Park Ki-Won’s men on top of Pool C with six points, two ahead of Finland with four points, the Netherlands and Canada on three (all three teams with one win and a defeat). Portugal, who registered their first win in 21 World League matches by beating Finland on Saturday, are in fifth on two points while Japan are sixth.
Pool C will be back in action next weekend while Pools A and B will start officially with Russia hosting World League debutants Iran in the opening game of the second weekend in a Pool B clash on Friday at 15:00 GMT followed by the key match of the weekend – defending champions Poland against nine-time winners Brazil in a Pool A game in Warsaw at 15.45 GMT – and France hosting Bulgaria in Montbéliard and Germany travelling to Modena to take on Italy, both games at 18:30 GMT.
The top two teams from Pool A and Pool B along with the winner of Pool C will join hosts Argentina at the World League Finals in Mar del Plata from July 17 to 21.
Top Scoring Performances
28 – Wytze Kooistra of Netherlands v Canada (May 31)
26 – Valdir Sequeira of Portugal v Finland (June 1)
26 – Mikko Oivanen of Finland v Portugal (June 1)
Top Blocking Performances
6 – Park Sang-Ha of Korea v Japan (June 1)
4 – Mikko Oivanen of Finland v Portugal (June 1)
4 – Adam Simac of Canada v Netherlands (June 1)
Top Blocking Performances by Team
14 – Korea v Japan (June 1)
13 – Canada v Netherlands (June 1)
11 – Finland v Portugal (June 1)
Top Serving Performances
7 – Alexandre Ferreira of Portugal v Finland (June 1)
3 – Matti Oivanen of Finland v Portugal (May 31)
3 – Tatsuya Fukuzawa of Japan v Korea (June 2)
Top Serving Performances by Team
9 – Portugal v Finland (June 1)
7 – Japan v Korea (June 2)
Highest Scorer by Round
Round 1: Wytze Kooistra of Netherlands, 28 (v Canada)
Highest Set Score
Round 1: Finland v Portugal, 29-27
Highest Scoring Matches
Round 1: Portugal v Finland, 3-2 (25-23, 23-25, 23-25, 25-23, 15-12) – 219 points
To read more news from this competition click on World League 2013 M.