WL: Brazil downs Serbia in atomic five-setter! (VIDEO)

Serbia – Brazil

It was a point-by-point play until 5-5 in the 1st set when Riad served into the net and Atanasijević converted counter-attack (7-5). Serbia went to the first TTO with the same advantage (8-6). After Petrić’s single block on Lipe and Ivović’s ace it was 10-6. When Isac caused a lot of problems to Serbian defense from the service line. Firstly, he scored an ace and afterwards, he disturbed Serbian reception so, Lipe converted a counter-attack (11-10). Two stunning moves from Ivović, one-on-one block on Vissotto and a kill behind 3-meter line gave the hosts 16-13 lead on the 2nd TTO. But, after two consecutive points from the Brazilians, Serbian head coach Grbić called for a time-out. Brazil equalized when Isac and Vissotto stopped Atanasijević’s spike (16-16). Lucarelli‘s attacks were unattainable, but he failed to convert one very improtant point. Double block stopped him for 22-19. Little by little and Brazil leveled at 23-23, crowned with Riad’s ace. Wallace converted a counter and Lipe scored another ace for 1-4 run and 23-25!

You can’t see very often that some team score six points in a row against Brazil and all from blocking or serving! Petrić had 2 blocks, Lisinac 2 as well and Podraščanin 2 aces for 9-2 lead of Serbia in the second set! The visitors knew that they had to play much harded. With 4 points in a row and mostly thanks to Wallace, they approached to 12-9. Serbia went to the 2nd TTO with 16-11 lead, but Brazilians were persistent and with two aces from Isac came to 18-16. But Ivović was stronger on the net than Riad and Lipe’s spike went wide – 20-16. Serbia finished this set with ease – 25-20.

Serbia started the third set with a good momentum, leading with 3-1. Lipe carried Brazil to 1-5 run from 6-6 to 7-11. Lucarelli continued where Lipe stopped (10-14). Serbians approached to 18-19 after Petrić’s block, but Lucarelli’s lucky ace gave Brazilians 19-22. The same player brought 21-25 to the guests.

In the 4th set, Brazilians were uncharacteristically destracted. When Serbia led with 10-7, up to 6 points came from Brazilian errors – spikes that went wide or net touches. Ten out of 15 points for Serbia (15-12) were also a consequence of Brazilian mistakes – Lucarelli’s, Lipe’s and Riad’s. Ivović was unstoppable, turning almost every counter-attack into the point for Serbia (18-12). There was no way for the visitors to make a turnaround in this set as they continued to send balls outside from all kinds of spikes – 25-22 with Atanasijević’s slam dunk!

There was drama in the tie-break. After point-by-point play until 6-6, Isac touched the net and Podraščanin blocked him for 8-6 lead for the home team. Brazilians fought back with two points in a row from Lucarelli (8-8). But, the very same player made a huge error on 10-9, spiking outside (11-9). Again Brazil returned to the match, with an ace from Vissotto (11-11). The guests gained the first match ball (12-14) after Wallace’s block on Petrić and Lucarelli’s stunning ace. They didn’t convert their first, but did their second match ball – 13-15.

See match STATS.

FIVB INTERCONTINENTAL ROUND / POOL A /

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