WC M: Kurek show!!! Atomic Poland downs Russia!

Kurek vs. RUS

With several good blasts by Kurek in the early stages of the match, Poland reached a two-point lead 6-4. The veteran Tetyukhin leveled with a block and ace 7-7. The next several points on both sides mostly consisted of sending serves into the net or spiking wide. Muserskiy was relentless, sending in several 3rd meter spikes, but it was in vain.

Kurek’s ace gave Poland 22-18 and Russians touched the net 24-20. Volvich announced a huge comeback of Russia with a block 24-22 while Butko’s ace leveled the score 24-24! Russia converted its second set ball with arguable point from Muserskiy who tipped the ball over the net after Polish poor reception. Antiga asked video challenge, but the referees didn’t change their decision 28-26.

Russia was led by Muserskiy and Mikhailov at start of Set 2 for a confident 11-8 lead. Poland approached to “-1” several times, mostly thanks to brave Kurek and precise quick attacks from Nowakowski. Kurek pulled ahead his team with two of three consecutive points of Poland for its first lead in the second set 15-14.

The Poles didn’t stop on that. Kurek blocked Muserskiy twice in a row 18-15! Nowakowski continued amazing blocking performance of Poland 22-20. Nevertheless, persistent Russians gained the set ball after Tetyukhin’s kill and Butko’s ace 25-24.

Then the key moment occurred when Antiga challenged referee’s decision. It was ruled that Kurek spiked outside, but it was a block-out 25-25. Two points in a row came and Polish team equalized in sets 27-25.

Poland was the first to make the gap in the third set with three consecutive points on 6-all. Kurek was again the main star in Polish team, now getting support in Buszek and Kubiak.

Three points in a row (two from Kubiak and ace from Drzyzga’s) for Poland definitely brought Russian misery to an end 19-14. Muserskiy couldn’t play alone. Huge Nowakowski’s block on Sivozhelez gave Poland 25-19.

It looked like Poland was the victim of own energy as it has almost spent it in previous three sets, allowing Russians to gain a solid three-point lead 11-8 in Set 4. Mikhailov was all over the court, firing aces and strong spikes 15-11.

Three, mostly unforced, errors in a row from the Russians returned Poland into the game 17-17. Kubiak’s ace and Kurek’s kill completed Polish 5-0 run (19-17)! There was no return for “Zbornaya” 25-22.

Bartosz Kurek ended the game with 25 points on his account! On the Russian side, Dmitriy Muserskiy had 20.

WC Standings

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