Jiri Kovar
Zaytsev soared for a spike to put Italy up 6-5. Koshikawa fired a serve long and Italy led 8-6 at the first TTO. Shogo Toimoto’s spike pulled Japan within a point at 9-8. Italy moved ahead 14-9 and Japan called a timeout. Japan prevailed in a long rally but still trailed 15-11. Italy was up 16-12 at the second TTO. Japan struggled with receiving during the set as Italy passed well on the counterattack. Lanza gave Italy the seet 25-16 with a spike. Zaytsev and Lanza had five points each in the set.
Jiri Kovar’s block put Italy in front 5-3 in the second set and Japan called a timeout. A spike by Kazuyoshi Yokota made it 7-5. Japan had trouble dealing with Italy’s frontline blocking. Zaytsev’s spike gave Italy an 8-6 edge at the first TTO. Koshikawa sent a serve long and Italy had set point at 24-18. After Japan scored three straight to make it 24-21, Italy called a timeout. Kovar ended the set 25-21 with a spike.
An outstanding block by Thomas Beretta put Italy up 5-3 in the third set. Fukuzawa whiffed on an attempted return and it was 7-3. Ishijima fired a spike long and it was 8-3 Italy at the first TTO. At this point in the match Italy had 10 blocks and Japan had none. A spike by Japan hit the antenna and Italy was up by six at 10-4. Another Zaytsev spike made it 15-10. Kovar’s spike made it 16-11 at the second TTO. Kovar spiked for 22-19 and Italy had the summit in sight. Japan took a final timeout at 23-20. Shimizu sent a spike wide and it was match point for Italy at 24-21. Kovar ended the affair 25-21 with a flying spike.
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