Dette innlegget oppdateres fremover med en del av kampene i sluttrundene av VM i Italia 2014 som er postet på YouTube.

• Du kan se video fra flere av kampene i første runde (inkludert USA-Russland) ved å klikke her.

God oversikt over hvordan mesterskapet spilles her.

Finale USA – Kina

Sett 1

Sett 2

Sett 3

Sett 4

Bronsefinale Brasil – Italia

Puljer for spill om semifinaleplass

Pool G: Italia, USA, Russland. Pool H: Brasil, Kina, Dominikanske Republikk

Kamper Runde 2

Runde 2 startet 1. oktober.

Brasil – USA 3-0 (25–23, 25–22, 25–21)

Serbia – Russland 0-3 (26–28, 18–25, 17–25)

Italia – Kina 3-1 (22–25, 25–18, 26–24, 25–17)

Sett 1: http://youtu.be/d9jj-DNJexw Sett 2: http://youtu.be/W0kJJz6BygQ Sett 3: http://youtu.be/_1nW_AH1WCE Sett 4: http://youtu.be/aedIaV8Rd60

Høydepunkter USA – Serbia

Tyskland – Aserbajdsjan 3-0 (25–15, 25–23, 25–19)

Tyrkia – Russland 3-2 (19–25, 25–27, 25–22, 25–22, 15–13)

Brasil – Nederland 3-1 (23–25, 25–20, 25–16, 25–16)

USA-Tyrkia 3-1 (27-29, 25-19, 25-23,25-15)

http://youtu.be/bYBL6Y6pGcY http://youtu.be/xLcM9SCiJoQ

Stacy Sykora for FIVB

Stacy Sykora (OL-sølv for USA i 2008) gjør reportasjer på vegne av FIVB i VM i Italia. http://youtu.be/GLH94rKd1bM http://youtu.be/5sVEe8r06ss http://youtu.be/hAWvwrKHObw

Dette innlegget inneholder en del av kampene i første runde i VM i Italia 2014 (kvinner) som er postet på YouTube (dessverre blir en del av videoene innhentet av krav om opphavsrett og blir fjernet etter en stund). Artikkelen oppdateres fortløpende og nye videoer vil bli lagt til. Av mest interesse for min egen del er USA (med Kelsey Robinson som avsluttet sin universitetskarriere for Nebraska forrige sesong), Russland (med Gamova tilbake på laget), Brasil :-), Tyskland (hva får Guidetti til når det virkelig gjelder) og Tyrkia (med kona til Guidetti men dessverre uten Neslihan Demir som er skulderskadet) så det kan være at det blir flest kamper der disse er involvert….

Jeg kommer også til å ta en ekstra titt på kampene der Melissa Vargas (født 16.10.1999) er involvert. Melissa er 184 centimeter høy og allerede en fenomenal poengplukker for Cuba. Regla Torres som ble kåret til århundrets kvinnelige volleyballspiller av FIVB i 2001 kommenterer Vargas i dette intervjuet fra i fjor. Torres debuterte i landslagssammenheng som 14-åring mens Vargas var i gang på toppnivå allerede som 13-åring.

I tillegg til den offisielle nettsiden er det god oversikt over mesterskapet på Wikipedia.

Herrenes VM er akkurat avsluttet i Polen og du finner noen inntrykk derfra her:

• Sluttrunde og finale
• Innledende runder

Høydepunktet i innledningen

Høydepunktet så langt uten tvil USA som slo regjerende mester Russland 3-1 og brøt rekken på 17 strake seire i VM for Russland. Russiske Gamova som giftet seg etter OL i London med filmprodusenten Michael Mukasey ble kåret til MVP i 2010 og sa ja til å spille for Russland rett i forkant av mesterskapet i Italia. Dette skapte en reaksjon fra brasiltrener Zé Roberto som beskyldte henne for å motta en lastebil med penger for å delta. Gamova svarte humoristisk at hun fikk to lastebiler med penger. Sannsynligheten er større for at det er jakten på flere gull som teller for Gamova. Hun har allerede to VM-gull (2006 og 2010) men kun sølv fra OL (2000 og 2004). Et forsmedelig tap i London-OL mot Brasil var neppe lett å svelge for Gamova og mitt tips er at hun har fingeren rettet også mot Rio 2016.

For USA ble søndagens kamp en stor opptur for coach Karch Kiraly selv om han sannsynligvis vil klø seg i hodet hvordan laget kan unngå situasjoner som siste ball i 3. sett mot Russland i dagene som kommer. I herrenes VM 2014 var USA eneste lag som beseiret gullvinner Polen men laget havnet likevel på en skuffende 7. plass til slutt. For damene ser det mye lysere ut etter første runde men USA har som vane å snuble på målstreken i VM og OL-sammenheng på kvinnesiden (sølv i VM i 1967 og 2002, bronse i VM 1982 og 1990, OL-sølv i 1984, 2008 og 2012 samt OL-bronse i 1992).

Norske betraktninger

VM-betraktninger fra Tor Inge Askeland

FØRSTE RUNDE

USA – Russland 3–1 (34–32, 25–19, 29–31, 26–24)

Starting 7 Players of USA:
1. Glass Alisha
10. Larson – Burbach Jordan Quinn
12. Murphy Kelly
13. Dietzen Christa Harmotto
15. Hill Kimberly
16. Akinradewo Foluke
2. Banwarth Kayla (L)

Starting 7 Players of Russia:
4. Zaryazhko Irina
8. Goncharova Nataliya
11. Gamova Ekaterina
13. Startseva Evgeniya
15. Kosheleva Tatiana
22. Moroz Regina
7. Kryuchkova Svetlana (L)

Sett 1:

Sett 2:

Sett 3:

Sett 4:

Brasil – Serbia 3–1 (24–26, 25–21, 25–19, 25–23)

Starting 7 Players of Brazil:
1. Claudino Fabiana
3. Lins Danielle
6. Menezes Thaisa
8. Pereira De Carvalho Endres Jaqueline
13. Castro De Paula Blassioli Sheilla
16. Rodrigues Fernanda
18. Brait Camila (L)

Starting 7 Players of Turkey:
7. Molnar Brizitka
9. Mihajlovic Brankica
10. Ognjenovic Maja
11. Veljkovic Stefana
16. Rasic Milena
19. Boskovic Tijana
17. Popovic Silvija (L)

Italia – Dominikanske Republikk 2–3 (15–25, 25–16, 21–25, 25–16, 8–15)

Starting 7 Players of Italy:
11. Chirichella Cristina
12. Piccinini Francesca
13. Arrighetti Valentina
14. Lo Bianco Eleonora
15. Del Core Antonella
17. Diouf Valentina
6. De Gennaro Monica (L)

Starting 7 Players of Dominican Republic:
1. Vargas Valdez Annerys Victoria
7. Marte Frica Niverka Dharlenis
8. Arias Perez Candida Estefany
14. Rivera Brens Prisilla
17. Mambru Casilla Gina Altagracia
18. De La Cruz De Peña Bethania
5. Castillo Brenda (L)

Sett 1:

Sett 2:

Sett 3:

Sett 4:

Sett 5:

Russland – Nederland 3-1 (19–25, 25–13, 27–25, 25–16)

Starting 7 Players of Russia:
4. Zaryazhko Irina
8. Goncharova Nataliya
11. Gamova Ekaterina
13. Startseva Evgeniya
14. Fetisova Irina
15. Kosheleva Tatiana
19. Malova Anna (L)
Starting 7 Players of Netherlands:
2. Stoltenborg Femke
3. Belien Yvon
4. Plak Celeste
5. De Kruijf Robin
8. Pietersen Judith
11. Buijs Anne
9. Schoot Myrthe (L)

Italia – Tyskland (21–25, 25–17, 25–10, 25–18)

Starting 7 Players of Italy:
9. Centoni Nadia
11. Chirichella Cristina
12. Piccinini Francesca
13. Arrighetti Valentina
14. Lo Bianco Eleonora
18. Costagrande Carolina Del Pilar
6. De Gennaro Monica (L)

Starting 7 Players of Germany:
4. Brinker Maren
7. Pettke Jennifer
11. Fürst Christiane
12. Beier Heike
14. Kozuch Margareta
20. Apitz Mareen
1. Dürr Lenka (L)

Brasil – Tyrkia 3–2 (17–25, 22–25, 25–19, 25–21, 15–10)

Starting 7 Players of Brazil:
1. Claudino Fabiana
3. Lins Danielle
6. Menezes Thaisa
8. Pereira De Carvalho Endres Jaqueline
13. Castro De Paula Blassioli Sheilla
16. Rodrigues Fernanda
18. Brait Camila (L)

Starting 7 Players of Turkey:
2. Sonsirma Gozde
5. Akman Kubra
7. Tokatlioglu Seda
8. Toksoy Guidetti Bahar
11. Aydemir Akyol Naz
13. Ozsoy Neriman
3. Karadayi Gizem (L)

Brasil – Bulgaria 3–0 (25–19, 25–22, 25–16)

Starting 7 Players of Brazil:
1. Claudino Fabiana
3. Lins Danielle
6. Menezes Thaisa
8. Pereira De Carvalho Endres Jaqueline
13. Castro De Paula Blassioli Sheilla
16. Rodrigues Fernanda
18. Brait Camila (L)

Starting 7 Players of Bulgaria:
4. Kitipova Lora
5. Rabadzhieva Dobriana
11. Ruseva Hristina
16. Vasileva Elitsa
17. Filipova Strashimira
18. Nikolova Emiliya
13. Filipova Mariya (L)

Japan – Kina 2–3 (16–25, 25–18, 27–25, 17–25, 11–15)

Starting 7 Players of Japan:
1. Nagaoka Miyu 長岡望悠
3. Kimura Saori 木村沙織
12. Ishii Yuki 石井優希
13. Shinnabe Risa 新鍋理沙
16 Sakoda Saori 迫田沙織
19. Miyashita Haruka 宮下遥
18. Tsutsui Sayaka 筒井さやか (L)

Starting 7 Players of China:
2. Zhu Ting 朱婷
6. Yang Junjing 楊珺菁
7. Wei Qiuyue 魏秋月
8. Zeng Chunlei 曾春蕾
11. Xu Yunli 徐云麗
12. Hui Ruoqi 惠若琪
15. Chen Zhan 陳展 (L)

Sett 1:

Sett 2:

Sett 3:

Sett 4:

Sett 5:

Kuba – Japan 0–3 (19–25, 24–26, 23–25)

Starting 7 Players of Cuba:
2. Gracia Gonzalez Regla Rainierys
3. Rojas Orta Alena
4. Vargas Abreu Melissa Teresa
5. Hernandez Santas Yamila
6. Lescay Cajigal Daymara
18. Matienzo Linares Sulian Caridad
10. Borrell Cruz Emily (L)

Starting 7 Players of Japan:
1. Nagaoka Miyu 長岡望悠
3. Kimura Saori 木村沙織
13. Shinnabe Risa 新鍋理沙
14. Ebata Yukiko 江畑幸子
17. Ono Kana 大野果奈
19. Miyashita Haruka 宮下遥
18. Tsutsui Sayaka 筒井さやか (L)

Tyrkia – Bulgaria 2–3 (25–20, 23–25, 18–25, 27–25, 12–15)

Starting 7 Players of Turkey:
2. Sonsirma Gozde
5. Akman Kubra
7. Tokatlioglu Seda
8. Toksoy Guidetti Bahar
11. Aydemir Akyol Naz
13. Ozsoy Neriman
3. Karadayi Gizem (L)

Starting 7 Players of Bulgaria:
4. Kitipova Lora
5. Rabadzhieva Dobriana
15. Dimitrova Nasya
16. Vasileva Elitsa
17. Filipova Strashimira
18. Nikolova Emiliya
13. Filipova Mariya (L)
Sett 1:

Sett 2:

Sett 3:

Sett 4:

Sett 5:

Serbia – Tyrkia 3–1 (25–15, 20–25, 25–19, 25–22)

Starting 7 Players of Serbia:
5. Krsmanovic Natasa
7. Molnar Brizitka
9. Mihajlovic Brankica
10. Ognjenovic Maja
16. Rasic Milena
19. Boskovic Tijana
17. Popovic Silvija (L)

Starting 7 Players of Turkey:
2. Sonsirma Gozde
5. Akman Kubra
6. Uslupehlivan Polen
8. Toksoy Guidetti Bahar
11. Aydemir Akyol Naz
13. Ozsoy Neriman
3. Karadayi Gizem (L)

Dominikanske Republikk – Tyskland 3–2 (22–25, 25–21, 25–21, 24–26, 15–13)

Starting 7 Players of Dominican Republic:
1. Vargas Valdez Annerys Victoria
7. Marte Frica Niverka Dharlenis
8. Arias Perez Candida Estefany
14. Rivera Brens Prisilla
17. Mambru Casilla Gina Altagracia
18. De La Cruz De Peña Bethania
5. Castillo Brenda (L)

Starting 7 Players of Germany:
4. Brinker Maren
9. Karg Stefanie
11. Fürst Christiane
12. Beier Heike
14. Kozuch Margareta
20. Apitz Mareen
1. Dürr Lenka (L)

Sett 1:

Sett 2:

Sett 3:

Sett 4:

Sett 5:

Russland – Thailand 3–0 (25–18, 25–19, 25–22)

Starting 7 Players of Russia:
8. Goncharova Nataliya
11. Gamova Ekaterina
13. Startseva Evgeniya
14. Fetisova Irina
15. Kosheleva Tatiana
22. Moroz Regina
7. Kryuchkova Svetlana (L)

Starting 7 Players of Thailand:
7. Bamrungsuk Hattaya
11. Luangtonglang Wanitchaya
14. Bundasak Jarasporn
16. Guedpard Pornpun
17. Kaewpin Kuttika
18. Kongyot Ajcharaporn
1. Buakaew Wanna (L)

USA 3–1 Mexico (19–25, 25–11, 25–20, 25–14)

Sett 1:

Sett 2:

Sett 3:

Sett 4:

Starting 7 Players of USA:
3. Thompson Courtney
9. Hildebrand Kristin Lynn
14. Fawcett Nicole
19. Robinson Kelsey
21. Dixon Tetori
22. Adams Rachael
6. Davis Nicole (L)

Starting 7 Players of Mexico:
3. Resendiz Lopez Claudia Lizbeth
5. Rangel Andrea
8. Carranza Dulce
10. Sainz Lizbeth
14. Rios Claudia
15. Urias Jocelyn
2. Lopez Lizeth (L)

Japan – Azerbaijan 2–3 (25–17, 20–25, 25–20, 21–25, 9–15)

Starting 7 Players of Japan:
1. Nagaoka Miyu 長岡望悠
2. Nakamichi Hitomi 中道瞳
3. Kimura Saori 木村沙織
9. Ishida Mizuho 石田瑞穂
13. Shinnabe Risa 新鍋理沙
16. Sakoda Saori 迫田さおり
5. Sato Arisa 佐藤あり紗 (L)

Starting 7 Players of Azerbaijan:
2. Kovalenko Kseniya
3. Gurbanova Anastasiya
4. Kurt (Parkhomenko) Oksana
5. Bayramova (Aliyeva) Odina
6. Abdulazimova Ayshan
17. Rahimova Polina
16. Kiselyova Oksana (L)

Sett 1:

Sett 2:

Sett 3:

Sett 4:

Sett 5:

Kina – Puerto Rico 3–0 (25–23, 25–18, 25–20)

Starting 7 Players of China:
2. Zhu Ting 朱婷
6. Yang Junjing 楊珺菁
7. Wei Qiuyue 魏秋月
8. Zeng Chunlei 曾春蕾
11. Xu Yunli 徐云麗
12. Hui Ruoqi 惠若琪
15. Chen Zhan 陳展 (L)

Startin 7 Players of Puerto Rico:
7. Enright Stephanie
9. Cruz Aurea
11. Ocasio Karina
14. Valentin Natalia
16. Oquendo Alexandra
18. Morales Lynda
1. Seilhamer Debora (L)

Dette innlegget inneholder en del av kampene i første runde i VM i Polen 2014 som er postet på YouTube. Andre runde finner du her.

Har ikke funnet noen enkel løsning for å se kampene direkte helt lovlig. Nettstedet http://www.frombar.com/ som neppe betaler for rettighetene nevnes av noen som et tips.

FØRSTE RUNDE

Italia – USA 1–3 (18–25, 20–25, 25–23, 17–25)

Starting 7 Players of ITA:
2. Kovar Jiri
3. Parodi Simone
9. Zaytsev Ivan
11. Buti Simone
15. Birarelli Emanuele
16. Baranowicz Michele
7. Rossini Salvatore (L)

Starting 7 Players of USA:
1. Anderson Matthew
3. Sander Taylor
4. Lee David
6. Lotman Paul
11. Christenson Micah
17. Holt Maxwell
22. Shoji Erik (L)

Frankrike – Belgia 3–2 (25–14, 21–25, 25–20, 22–25, 15–12)

Starting 7 Players of FRA:
4. Rouzier Antonin
6. Toniutti Benjamin
7. Tillie Kevin
9. Ngapeth Earvin
10. Le Roux Kevin
14. Le Goff Nicolas
2. Grebennikov Jenia (L)

Starting 7 Players of BEL:
1. Van Den Dries Bram
3. Deroo Sam
5. Depestele Frank
9. Verhees Pieter
10. Van De Voorde Simon
11. Verhanneman Matthijs
14. Derkoningen Bert (L)

Russland – Bulgaria 3–2 (20–25, 23–25, 25–20, 25–23, 15–11)

Starting 7 Players of RUS:
3. Apalikov Nikolay
5. Grankin Sergey
7. Pavlov Nikolay
9. Spiridonov Alexey
13. Muserskiy Dmitriy
15. Ilinykh Dmitriy
20. Ermakov Artem (L)

Starting 7 Players of BUL:
3. Zhekov Andrey
8. Skrimov Todor
12. Yosifov Viktor
14. Todorov Teodor
17. Penchev Nikolay
19. Sokolov Tsvetan
13. Salparov Teodor (L)

Brasil – Cuba 3–1 (22–25, 25–23, 25–18, 25–17)

Starting 7 Players of BRA:
4. De Souza Wallace
5. Dos Santos Jr. Sidnei
8. Endres Murilo
10. Lucarelli Santos De Souza Ricardo
16. Saatkamp Lucas
20. Vieira De Oliveira Raphael
19. Da Silva Pedreira Junior Mario (L)

Starting 7 Players of CUB:
2. Romero Valdes Inovel
4. Jimenez Scull Javier Ernesto
5. Macias Infante Leandro
13. Fiel Rodriguez David
16. Mesa Sandoval Isbel
20. Uriarte Mestre Osmany Santiago
6. Gutierrez Torna Keibel (L)

Polen – Argentina 3–0 (25–20, 25–20, 25–23)

Starting 7 Players of POL:
1. Nowakowski Piotr
2. Winiarski Michal
5. Zagumny Pawel
7. Klos Karol
10. Wlazly Mariusz
20. Mika Mateusz
17. Zatorski Pawel (L)

Starting 7 Players of ARG:
2. Filardi Javier
5. Uriarte Nicolás
7. Conte Facundo
10. Gonzalez José Luis
11. Solé Sebastian
16. Ramos Martin
21. Closter Sebastián (L)

USA – Frankrike 1–3 (25–19, 17–25, 15–25, 21–25)

Starting 7 Players of USA:
1. Anderson Matthew
3. Sander Taylor
4. Lee David
6. Lotman Paul
11. Christenson Micah
17. Holt Maxwell
22. Shoji Erik (L)

Starting 7 Players of FRA:
4. Rouzier Antonin
6. Toniutti Benjamin
7. Tillie Kevin
9. Ngapeth Earvin
10. Le Roux Kevin
14. Le Goff Nicolas
2. Grebennikov Jenia (L)

Sør-Korea – Brasil 2–3 (25–21, 13–25, 21–25, 25–17, 13–15)

Starting 7 Players of KOR:
2. Han Sun-Soo
4. Shin Yung-Suk
9. Kwak Seung-Suk
11. Choi Min-Ho
12. Jeon Kwang-In
13. Park Chul-Woo
19. Jeong Minsu (L)

Starting 7 Players of BRA:
3. Carbonera Eder
5. Dos Santos Jr. Sidnei
6. Vissotto Neves Leandro
8. Endres Murilo
12. Fonteles Luiz Felipe Marques
20. Vieira De Oliveira Raphael
19. Da Silva Pedreira Junior Mario (L)

Brasil – Finland 3-0 (27-25, 25-21, 26-24)

Italia – Belgia 3–1 (26–28, 25–15, 25–16, 28–26)

Starting 7 Players of ITA:
2. Kovar Jir
9. Zaytsev Ivan
10. Lanza Filippo
11. Buti Simone
15. Birarelli Emanuele
16. Baranowicz Michele
20. Colaci Massimo (L)

Starting 7 Players of BEL:
1. Van Den Dries Bram
3. Deroo Sam
5. Depestele Frank
8. Klinkenberg Kevin
9. Verhees Pieter
10. Van De Voorde Simon
14. Derkoningen Bert (L)

Iran – Frankrike 1–3 (18–25, 25–14, 19–25, 27–29)

Starting 7 Players of IRI:
4. Marouflakrani Mir Saeid
5. Ghaemi Farhad
6. Mousavi Eraghi Seyed Mohammad
9. Gholami Adel
10. Ghafour Amir
12. Mirzajanpour M. Mojtaba
8. Zarif Ahangaran V. Farhad (L)

Starting 7 Players of FRA:
4. Rouzier Antonin
6. Toniutti Benjamin
7. Tillie Kevin
9. Ngapeth Earvin
10. Le Roux Kevin
14. Le Goff Nicolas
2. Grebennikov Jenia (L)

Kina – Bulgaria 0-3 (23–25, 23–25, 19–25)

Starting 7 Players of CHN:
3. Zhi Yuan
6. Chunlong Liang
7. Weijun Zhong
8. Jianjun Cui
9. Shuai Jiao
11. Xin Geng
16. Qi Ren (L)

Starting 7 Players of BUL:
3. Zhekov Andrey
5. Gotsev Svetoslav
12. Yosifov Viktor
15. Aleksiev Todor
17. Penchev Nikolay
19. Sokolov Tsvetan
13. Salparov Teodor (L)

Canada – Egypt 3-0

Gavin Schmitt, Canadian National Volleyball Team

Finland – Sør-Korea 3–0 (25–22, 26–24, 25–15)

Starting 7 Players of FIN:
3. Esko Mikko
5. Siltala Antti
10. Sivula Urpo
12. Kunnari Olli
15. Oivanen Matti
18. Lehtonen Jukka
4. Kerminen Lauri (L)

Starting 7 Players of KOR:
1. Song Myung-Geun
4. Shin Yung-Suk
6. Lee Min-Gyu
9. Kwak Seung-Suk
11. Choi Min-Ho
17. Seo Jae-Duck
10. Bu Yong-Chan (L)

Frankrike – Italia 2–3 (25–20, 25–20, 23–25, 13–25, 12–15)

Starting 7 Players of FRA:
4. Rouzier Antonin
6. Toniutti Benjamin
7. Tillie Kevin
9. Ngapeth Earvin
10. Le Roux Kevin
14. Le Goff Nicolas
2. Grebennikov Jenia (L)

Starting 7 Players of ITA:
2. Kovar Jiri
3. Parodi Simone
9. Zaytsev Ivan
11. Buti Simone
13. Travica Dragan
15. Birarelli Emanuele
7. Rossini Salvatore (L)

Australia – Poland 0–3 (17–25, 19–25, 22–25)

Starting 7 Players of AUS:
1. Zingel Aidan
6. Edgar Thomas
9. White Adam
12. Mote Nehemiah
14. Sukochev Grigory
16. Smith Luke
11. Perry Luke (L)

Starting 7 Players of POL:
1. Nowakowski Piotr
2. Winiarski Michal
5. Zagumny Pawel
7. Klos Karol
10. Wlazly Mariusz
20. Mika Mateusz
17. Zatorski Pawel (L)

Cuba – Tyskland 0–3 (16–25, 21–25, 19–25)

Starting 7 Players of CUB:
4. Jimenez Scull Javier Ernesto
5. Macias Infante Leandro
8. Cepeda Abreu Rolando
13. Fiel Rodriguez David
16. Mesa Sandoval Isbel
20. Uriarte Mestre Osmany Santiago
6. Gutierrez Torna Keibel (L)

Starting 7 Players of GER:
3. Schwarz Sebastian
6. Kaliberda Denys
8. Böhme Marcus
9. Grozer György
11. Kampa Lukas
16. Günthör Max
12. Tille Ferdinand (L)

USA – Iran 2–3 (23–25, 19–25, 25–19, 25–18, 15–17)

Starting 7 Players of USA:
1. Anderson Matthew
3. Sander Taylor
4. Lee David
11. Christenson Micah
17. Holt Maxwell
18. Muagututia Garrett
22. Shoji Erik (L)

Starting 7 players of IRI:
4. Marouflakrani Mir Saeid
5. Ghaemi Farhad
6. Mousavi Eraghi Seyed Mohammad
9. Gholami Adel
10. Ghafour Amir
12. Mirzajanpour M. Mojtaba
8. Zarif Ahangaran V. Farhad (L)

Rapport fra Doug Beal (USA Volleyball CEO) etter tapet mot Iran:

KRAKOW, Poland (Sept. 2, 2014) – This report is a little hard to write. Our men lost a real heartbreaking match this afternoon to Iran (IRI), 3-2. This was really two different matches; sets 1 and 2 were struggles for the USA, as IRI served and passed very well and constantly made our team side out from difficult situations, while their offense was humming along. The first set was winnable, but a couple late errors and we were down 23-25. Set 2 was worse with IRI winning 25-19.

Coach Speraw made a pretty big change to start the third set – moving Matt Anderson to outside hitter, Carson Clark to opposite, and bringing in David Smith in a middle position. This new lineup (different than even the four lineups used against BEL) clicked in almost every way and reeled of sets 3 and 4 25-19, and 25-18. Our serving and passing were very good and we played at a very good level.

That set up the tiebreaker. We got down early, were behind 5-8 and then 7-10, but clawed our way to a tie at 15! We really seemed to have momentum and confidence; but a tough play in transition and a final hitting error that seemed to be a clear touch, but not reversed on the challenge and IRI had a 17-15 win.

A few interesting thoughts about this match: USA outscored IRI 107-103, but they had 10 more first-ball kills than we did; maybe a more in-rhythm offense, which is surely the strength of that team. We had more total kills by almost 10 (my stats rarely match the official ones from FIVB), but had to get lots from second and third efforts. We out-blocked IRI by quite a bit, but also had a few more serve and attack errors. We have a very good team (they proved that by winning the World League earlier this summer), but also a very young and relatively inexperienced team, especially at several very key positions. I think we have over half the roster who are playing in their first World Championship and I may be short one or two! We are also playing in the most challenging, and probably strongest preliminary pool!

Also, remember that the first criteria used by the FIVB to rank teams is NOT matches W-L, but POINTS earned for each match played (3 points for a 3-0 or 3-1 win, 2 points for a 3-2 win, and 1 point for a 2-3 loss). Thus, our pool has IRI with 5 pts, Belgium (BEL) and France (FRA) with 4, USA with 3, Italy (ITA) with 2 and Puerto Rico (PUR) at 0. Today, ITA came back and beat FRA 3-2 after being down 0-2, and BEL beat PUR 3-0. This ranking is very likely to change every match day, and the teams surviving this group might have fewer points than other teams advancing from less balanced and difficult groups.

The crowd was pretty impressive for an early match and almost equal between USA and IRI supporters. It’s great to see so many USA flags and the cheers for the team. The format and schedule here is quite unusual for the World Championships. It’s more like the schedule at the Olympics, with matches almost every other day. There are a total of eight off days if your team makes it to the final round – a long event. The organization has been top rate. The venue here in Krakow is really wonderful. It is just like a major USA 17,000 seat arena, with almost any amenity needed; great space to play, big overhead scoreboard, arena entertainment, nice locker rooms and just a great organization. The hotel is about 15-20 min away, but with a police escort on every trip, we just by pass the traffic and make the trip quite quickly and easily.

Poland, as I said, is a volleyball-mad country and really has embraced this event. Every city is decorated with the banners and posters, and street flags for the World Championships; lots of sponsor visibility and great attendance. Each day there are two tickets sold; one for the first match at 1 pm; then the arena is cleared out and the 4:30 and 8:15 pm matches are the other ticket.

Krakow is a beautiful, old city with a lovely/active city center, full of street cafes, restaurants and old churches and castle-like buildings. Not sure we will have much chance to explore, but it would be easy to do to walk around and the weather has been largely cooperating. A day off to regroup, and take on PUR Thursday, also at 1!! DB

Argentina – Serbia 1-3 (17-25, 25-20, 21-25, 21-25)

Finland – Cuba 3–2 (18–25, 21–25, 27–25, 25–23, 15–12)

Starting 7 Players of FIN:
3. Esko Mikko
5. Siltala Antti
10. Sivula Urpo
12. Kunnari Olli
14. Shumov Konstantin
18. Lehtonen Jukka
4. Kerminen Laur (L)

Starting 7 Players of CUB:
4. Jimenez Scull Javier Ernesto
5. Macias Infante Leandro
8. Cepeda Abreu Rolando
13. Fiel Rodriguez David
16. Mesa Sandoval Isbel
20. Uriarte Mestre Osmany Santiago
6. Gutierrez Torna Keibel (CUB)

Oppvarming Kamerun

Belgia – USA 3-2 (21–25, 25–17, 16–25, 25–21, 11–15)

Starting 7 Players of BEL:
1. Van Den Dries Bram…
3. Deroo Sam
5. Depestele Frank
8. Klinkenberg Kevin
9. Verhees Pieter
10. Van De Voorde Simon
14. Derkoningen Bert (L)

Starting 7 Players of USA:
1. Anderson Matthew
3. Sander Taylor
4. Lee David
11. Christenson Micah
17. Holt Maxwell
18. Muagututia Garrett
22. Shoji Erik (L)

Italia – Iran 1-3 (16–25, 25–23, 21–25, 22–25)

Starting 7 Players of ITA:
2. Kovar Jiri…
3. Parodi Simone
9. Zaytsev Ivan
11. Buti Simone
13. Travica Dragan
15. Birarelli Emanuele
7. Rossini Salvatore (L)

Starting 7 Players of IRI:
4. Marouflakrani Mir Saeid
5. Ghaemi Farhad
6. Mousavi Eraghi Seyed Mohammad
9. Gholami Adel
10. Ghafour Amir
12. Mirzajanpour M. Mojtaba
8. Zarif Ahangaran V. Farhad (L)

Brasil – Tyskland 3-0 (25–21, 25–19, 25–17)

Starting 7 Players of BRA:
1. Rezende Bruno Mossa …
4. De Souza Wallace
5. Dos Santos Jr. Sidnei
8. Endres Murilo
10. Lucarelli Santos De Souza Ricardo
16. Saatkamp Lucas
19. Da Silva Pedreira Junior Mario (L)

Starting 7 Players of GER:
3. Schwarz Sebastian
6. Kaliberda Denys
8. Böhme Marcus
9. Grozer György
11. Kampa Lukas
16. Günthör Max
12. Tille Ferdinand (L)

Polen -Serbia 3-0 (25–19, 25–18, 25–18)

Starting 7 Players of Poland:
1. Nowakowski Piotr…
2. Winiarski Michal
5. Zagumny Pawel
7. Klos Karol
10. Wlazly Mariusz
20. Mika Mateusz
17. Zatorski Pawel (L)

Starting 7 Players of Serbia:
1. Kovacevic Nikola
9. Jovovic Nikola
10. Nikic Milos
14. Atanasijevic Aleksandar
18. Podrascanin Marko
20. Lisinac Srecko
19. Rosic Nikola (L)