Australia celebrated their 3-1 win over Turkey to complete their Group 2 preliminary round matches in the 2017 FIVB Volleyball World League
Kunshan, China, June 18, 2017 – Paul Carroll and Luke Smith put their scoring skills on display as Australia overpowered Turkey 3-1 (26-24, 20-25, 25-21, 25-19) to complete their preliminary round matches in Group 2 in the FIVB Volleyball World League at Kunshan Sports Centre on Sunday.
Latest VideosFacebookTwitterInstagramMedia GuidesAustralia captain Carroll top scored with 19 points, as Smith helped out with a 15-point contribution. On the Turkish side, Gokhan Gokgoz and Emre Batur scored 14 and 11 points, respectively.
Australia, as hosts of the Group 2 Finals, are already qualified for the final four in Gold Coast. However, they ensured that they deserved the spot in the semifinals and completed their matches with 16 points.
Australia and Turkey went neck and neck at the start of the first set, but a service mistake by Gokgoz gave Australia an 8-6 cushion. Turkey then unleashed a string strong attacks and blocks that reversed the trend at 14-12. Australia tied the score at 15-all, then both sides traded points all the way until the score was deadlocked at 24-all. Australia scored two points in a row from attacks that sealed the set at 26-24.
Serhat Coskun’s attack from the left flank opened the second set. A service mistake by Smith facilitated a two-point deficit in favour of Turkey at 8-6. Australia came back at 14-12, forcing Turkey to call a time-out. Turkey got back to tie the score at 14-all, until they made a better run on offence to lead 23-19. Batur earned set point for Turkey with an ace, then Matic finished it off with a powerful spike at 25-20.
Turkey kept their momentum going in the third set as Baturalp Burak Gungor’s spike led them to gain a two-point advantage. Carroll took charge to bring Australia back in the game at 11-all. Australia gained advantage 14-12, then Carroll, Smith and Max Richards started another run that kept their lead at 23-21. Turkey’s two straight errors gave away the set to Australia 25-21.
Australia scored on successive spikes and blocks that led to their consistent lead over their rivals at 18-15. They widened the gap further until they held Turkey to score only two points, before they closed set and match at 25-19.