Czechs shock defening champs as Boys' U19 Worlds heat up

Tunis, Tunisia, August 23, 2019- The Czech Republic stunned defending champions Iran with a 3-0 (25-17, 25-17, 25-22) that sent shockwaves through the 2019 FIVB Boys' U19 World Champioship, as the competition entered its third day here on Friday.

Matous Drahonovsky scored the match high of 17 points, including 5 blocks and 3 aces, with Jiri Mikulenka following close behind with 16 points and an attacking efficiency of 63% (15/24) to lead the European side who were totally dominant on the net with 13 blocks (to 4) and 41/79 for 52% (to 33/76 for 43%) in attack.

Italy remained undefeated and now stand at the top of the Pool A standings, following their 3-0 (25-18, 25-19, 25-13) win over Colombia in which coach Vincenzo Fanizza got the opportunity to try out varying lineups. Tommaso Rinaldi emerged top scorer of the game on 18 points.

Argentina's Agustin Gallardo tries to get the ball past the block of Germany's Jan Kolakowski and Julian Hoyerat.

Cuba avoid mishaps to stay undefeated Cuba had to fight hard for their third win on the trot, eventually just dropping one set in their 3-1 (25-18, 17-25, 25-19, 25-20) win over Chinese Taipei.

Led by Jose Gutierrez who scored 18 points, Cuba dominated the game especially on the net, both outblocking (including 4 stuffs from Victor Andreu) and outserving (with four out of seven aces from Christian Thondike) Korea.

Brazil came from behind in the first set and even cancelled one set point of Tunisia, but then cruised past the hosts 3-0 (27-25, 25-17, 25-14) to score their first in the tournament, after their opening match loss to Cuba in five.

The South Americans, six-time youth world champions, were led by Darlan Ferreira who scored 19 points.

Japan's Daiki Yamada tries to tip the ball over the Egypt block of Abdelrahman Elhossiny and Omar 'Shrif' Deighamat.

Egypt go three for three Egypt held off Japan's attempt at a comeback, wrapping up with a 3-2 (25-19, 25-20, 23-25, 15-25, 15-10) win that sees the African side extend their record to 3-0 in Pool C.

Japan did force a tie-brak after finding themselves two sets down, but Egypt impressively pulled together in the fifth, breaking away after the court-switch and opening up a lead before Abdelrahman Elhossiny Jr put the last ball away.

Elhossiny Jr powered the winners with a 27-point scoring performance, as Egypt produced some solid blocking of 14 stuffs (including six from Omar 'Sherif' Deigham alone). Germany got their first win of the tournament a little later on, handing Argentina their first defeat 3-1 (25-21, 22-25, 25-20, 25-21) - both teams now standing at 1-1 in Pool C.

The match was tight throughout, but Germany broke away whenever it mattered - by just enough to claim the win, with Simon Torwie hauling in 24 points and Jan Kolakowski dominating on the net with his blocking.

Korea's Joung Hanyong gets stopped by the Russia triple block of Roman Murashko, Mikhail Fedorov and Ilya Kazachenkov.

Russia break away with second win Russia, the 2016 Boys' U16 silver medallists, pulled together after dropping the first set and went on to beat Korea 3-1 (22-25, 25-21, 25-18, 25-23) and stay undefeated at the top of Pool D. It was tighter then the final score may suggest, but at 23-21 in the second set back-to-back aces by Ilya Kazachenkov on Park Yuhyeon clinched the set for Russia. And in the fourth it took just one match ball for Russia to close the game outright with a crosscourt kill from Omar Kurbanov.

Kazachenkov and Kurbanov shared top-scoring honours for Russia with 21 points each, though the match high of 26 was by Korea's Joung Hanyong.

USA wrapped up the day with a 3-0 (25-22, 25-19, 25-20) sweep of Nigeria, with Alex Knight leading the way on 18 points as the Americans produced a vastly superior attacking efficiency of 55% (46/84) - compared to just 43% (29/67) of Nigeria.

USA's Alex Knight, top scorer in the match against Kenya, keeps the ball in play.

SOURCE: www.fivb.org

Posted in International on Aug 24, 2019