Five-set drama ends in victory for Turkey over China
Lausanne, Switzerland, June 2, 2017 – Russia, France and Italy are the teams that started off with straight-set wins on the first day of Group 1 action in the 2017 FIVB Volleyball World League. China’s Chuan Jiang topped the day’s scorers’ chart across all groups, tallying 32 points against Turkey, which was still not enough for his squad to record a victory in this Group 2 game.
Group 1
In Kazan, France and the home guys from Russia were way to strong for their opponents, Bulgaria and Argentina, respectively, and mastered speedy shutouts to edge forward in the race.
Italy did the same in their home pool with a straight-setter against Iran. In the same pool in Pesaro, Brazil and Poland started off with a five-set masterpiece with the world champs from Poland celebrating with the victory.
Enjoying the home court advantage in Novi Sad, Serbia also took the three points after a 3-1 win against USA, while Belgium and Canada engaged in another five-set cross-Atlantic drama, with the Canadians coming out on top.
Group 2
The Netherlands and Slovakia are the two teams that managed to gain straight-set wins in their first matches. Both with the same point ratio, they share the top in the current standings after the first competition day.
The Dutch beat Egypt in Ankara, where in what was one of the longest matches of the day, Turkey persevered for a hard-fought 3-2 victory over China at home, despite the smashing 32 points that Chuan Jiang hammered out for the Asian team. The Slovaks won against Japan at home in Poprad after Australia and Portugal thrilled with an epic five-setter, eventually won by the Volleyroos.
At home, in Seoul, Korea celebrated a tie-breaker victory over the Czech Republic, after Slovenia claimed a four-set win in the all-European clash with Finland in the same pool.
Group 3
Two five-setters took place in Friday’s Group 3 matches, with Montenegro making use of as many as 21 kill blocks to eventually overpower Tunisia at home, in Biejlo Polje. In the same pool in the Balkan country, Estonia snatched a tie-breaker victory over Chinese Taipei.
On the opposite end of match length, all other games in the group ended in straight sets. In Barcelona, Spain and Qatar shut out Mexico and Greece, respectively; and in Frankfurt, Germany cruised to a speedy win against Kazakhstan, while Venezuela registered a no-show to forfeit their match against Austria.
Top Scorer by Day
32 - Chuan Jiang of China v Turkey on June 2
Top Scoring Performances
32 - Chuan Jiang of China v Turkey on June 2
29 - Nathan Roberts of Australia v Portugal on June 2
26 - Bram Van Den Dries of Belgium v Canada on June 2
25 - Metin Toy of Turkey v China on June 2
25 - Milos Culafic of Montenegro v Tunisia on June 2
Top Individual Serving Performances
6 - Maxim Zhigalov of Russia v Argentina on June 2
4 - Marko Ivovic of Serbia v USA on June 2
3 - Chuan Jiang of China v Turkey on June 2
3 - Marco Ferreira of Portugal v Australia on June 2
3 - Simon Hirsch of Germany v Kazakhstan on June 2
3 - Ricardo Lucarelli Souza of Brazil v Poland on June 2
3 - Filippo Lanza of Italy v Iran on June 2
Top Team Serving Performances
11 - Serbia v USA on June 2
8 - Russia v Argentina on June 2
7 - France v Bulgaria on June 2
7 - Portugal v Australia on June 2
7 - Germany v Kazakhstan on June 2
7 - Belgium v Canada on June 2
Top Individual Blocking Performances
7 - Bozidar Cuk of Montenegro v Tunisia on June 2
5 - Lucas Saatkamp of Brazil v Poland on June 2
5 - Siirila Tommi of Finland v Slovenia on June 2
5 - Milos Culafic of Montenegro v Tunisia on June 2
5 - Matej Patak of Slovakia v Japan on June 2
Top Team Blocking Performances
21 - Montenegro v Tunisia on June 2
14 - Brazil v Poland on June 2
14 - Slovakia v Japan on June 2
13 - Bulgaria v France on June 2
13 - Korea v Czech Republic on June 2
13 - Finland v Slovenia on June 2
13 - Netherlands v Egypt on June 2
13 - Poland v Brazil on June 2
13 - Canada v Belgium on June 2
Highest Scoring Sets
27-25 - Netherlands v Egypt on June 2
27-25 - Tunisia v Montenegro on June 2
27-25 - Netherlands v Egypt on June 2
27-25 - Slovakia v Japan on June 2
Highest Scoring Matches
222 - Korea v Czech Republic 3-2 (25-17, 23-25, 24-26, 25-20, 15-12) on June 2
219 - Australia v Portugal 3-2 (21-25, 25-20, 25-18, 22-25, 20-18) on June 2
217 - Belgium v Canada 2-3 (22-25, 25-19, 24-26, 25-23, 13-15) on June 2
215 - Turkey v China 3-2 (25-22, 25-20, 21-25, 24-26, 15-12) on June 2
212 - Korea v Czech Republic 3-2 (25-17, 23-25, 24-26, 25-20, 15-12) on June 2
212 - Chinese Taipei v Estonia 2-3 (25-23, 24-26, 17-25, 25-20, 12-15) on June 2