Katowice, Poland, September 13- Russia confirmed the second qualification ticket to the third round in Pool F of the 2014 FIVB Men's World Championship after Brazil clinched the first earlier, following their straight sets victory over Germany (25-17, 25-18, 26-24) at Spodek Hall in Katowice, Poland on Saturday.
With the victory Russia improved their win- loss ratio to 6-0 with 17 points to come second to Brazil (18), while Germany dropped to 4-2 with (12 points) and play a decisive match on Sunday for the third ticket against Canada (10).
Despite committing a lot of errors (22) during the whole match, the superiority of Russia in the areas of serve and blocking gave the victory to the Olympic champions.
Dmitriy Muserskiy and Pavel Moroz played a key factor in the victory with their services and spikes from different areas
Key Points
• This is the fifth victory for Russia against Germany in six matches at the World Championships. Germany won only once.
• All of Germany's losses against Russia were straight set defeats.
• It is only the second time these teams meet after the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989, after a 3-0 win for Russia in 1994. In 1966, 1970, 1974 and 1978 they faced each other as German Democratic Republic and Soviet Union.
• Germany ended a six-match winning streak in the World Champs, their longest at the World Championship since competing as Germany (since 1994).
• With this victory Russia have won their last 11 matches, their best ever winning streak since competing as Russia (1994). Their last loss came on 5 October 2010, a 3-1 defeat against Serbia.
After a fierce opening of the first set, Russia run 2-0 ahead with Pavel Moroz’s kill. When Germany tried to catch up from the first minutes, 218 cm Dmitriy Muserskiy built a solid block and György Grozer made an out spike what pushed Russia into four points leading (6-2). Just before the first technical timeout, Sebastian Schwarz and Marcus Böhme’s block helped Germany with taking touch, but they were Russia who led 8-3 during the break. With good passing, hard spikes by Spiridonov and Germany’s mistakes, Russia were able to control the game and increase their leading to 7 points (12-5). After few errors made by Russia and Grozer’s aggressive serves, fine Denys Kaliberda block helped Germany with decreasing Russia’s leading do 3 points (15-12). However, Germany’s chase wasn’t successful for long as well-working Russia’s defence prevented Germany from scoring points. At 21-14 Andrey Voronkov’s players controlled the game and comfortably went throughout the first set, finishing it 25-17.
Russia with aggressive serves jumped into 4-2 leading in the second set. However, Germany still kept touch (5-4) as Dmitriy Muserskiy made a serve error. With Denys Kalibera’s kill, Germany tried to improve the scores just before the first technical timeout, but they were Russia who led 8-5. The leading increased to five points (10-5) after Nikolay Apalikov and Dmitriy Ilinykh’s fine block and Vital Heynen called timeout. At 14-11, when Germany tried to catch up, Sergey Grankin displayed a fine dink and put his team 15-11 ahead. At 17-11, Dirk Westphal came into the court, but Russia didn’t stop and single Tim Broschog’s spike couldn’t have changed the scores. György Grozer behind the serve line at 20-15 was not enough and Russia won the second set 25-18 with Dmitriy Ilinykh’s kill.
Balanced beginning of the third set (2-2) was broken by Germany who jumped into one point leading after Denys Kaliberda’s fine spike. Adding a block built by Kaliberda ang Broshog, Germany stood 6-4 ahead. Russia regained the leading at the first technical timeout (8-7) after Dmitriy Ilinykh’s spike. From that moment, the game was played point by point, but after out serve by Germany and Alexy Spiridonov’s block on Grozer, Russia went 13-10 ahead. Another block and Broshg’s spike put Germany into one point of leading at the second technical timeout. With their well organized defence, Germany were able to gain the advance again (19-17), however, Russia caught up at 20-20 and run 22-21 ahead after Muserskiy’s ace and kept the leading till the end, winning the third set 26-24.