Poland continues with maximum record on first day of second round
Hiroshima/Sendai, 25th November 2006 – After the first day’s action in the second round of the FIVB Men’s World Championship on Saturday, Poland is still the only team that has yet to concede a set in their World Championship campaign. But it was a confident side from Serbia and Montenegro that took the top spot in Sendai’s Pool E with a superior points ratio. Bulgaria continued the run of successes for the teams from central and eastern Europe with a comprehensive defeat over Cuba to take first place in Pool F in Hiroshima. Defending champions Brazil swept aside the USA in straight sets to take the second place in the pool and stay in contention for a semi-final place.
Sendai (Pool E): Poles still refuse to concede a set
Poland continued their unbeaten start to the tournament with a three-set victory over Tunisia today. The Polish, ranked eighth, won 25-22, 25-18, 25-23 in their opening Pool E game and are yet to lose a set in the tournament, although Tunisia pushed them close in the final bracket. Poland sit at the top of the pool after the first day of the second round, while Tunisia drop to 0-4.
Third-ranked Russia were in a no-nonsense mood in their first match of the second round, crushing Argentina in straight sets. The Russians, runners up in the 2002 World Championship, stormed to a 25-18, 25-20, 25-14 victory to improve their second-round tally to 3-1, while the South Americans dropped to 0-4.
Serbia and Montenegro needed all their experience and quality to beat plucky Puerto Rico 3-1 at Sendai City Gymnasium. The Balkan side won a tough match 25-18, 25-23, 20-25, 25-23 to improve their win-loss record to 4-0 in the second round and drop Puerto Rico to 1-3.
Japan took a major step towards the third and final stage in Tokyo next week by beating Canada 3-1 on Saturday night. Japan recovered from losing the first set to win the match 23-25, 25-21, 25-17, 25-22 and improve their win-loss record in the second round to 3-1. Canada slid to 1-3.

Hiroshima (Pool F): Bulgaria show they are a force to be reckoned with after opening victory
Bulgaria brought their unbeaten first round form into the second phase with a comprehensive defeat of Cuba. The Europeans followed up their five opening round wins with a 25-22, 25-18, 25-20 victory over the Caribbeans, and sounded a warning to the rest of Pool F that their impressive winning run is not over yet.

Brazilian coach Bernardo Rezende wanted his team to reach new heights and his players duly obliged as the World and Olympic champions romped to a 3-0 victory over the United States. At times playing sublime volleyball worthy of their favourites status, Brazil won 25-19, 25-18, 25-23 to send a message to the watching Bulgarians (4-0) that this group is going to be a real battle.

France began their second round campaign with a straight sets victory over European rivals the Czech Republic. The French punctuated their 25-19, 25-23, 25-18 victory with periods of unstoppable volleyball powered by some devastating serving and attacking, but a spirited Czech team made them work hard until the end.

Italy strolled to a 3-0 victory over Germany in their opening Pool F match. The Italians extended to 3-1 for the second round with their 25-23, 25-22, 25-16 victory, which dropped Germany to 2-2 overall. Italy’s coach Gianpaolo Montali admitted that he had been afraid before the game because Germany had beaten France, but was relieved to see his team get off to a good start in the second round.

From Jack Kwemba in Nairobi, Kenya