Russia
used their efficient middle blockers and the stable performance
of the backline defense to achieve a straight sets victory over
Egypt 25-15, 36-34, 25-19 in 87 minutes of exciting volleyball
that entertained more than spectators who attended the match in
the big Hall of Cairo Stadium Complex in the third weekend of
the intercontinental round of the 2007 World League on Friday.
In the first set, the Russian team started the match
aggressively and used the wing spiker Pavel Abramov and led 3-0.
The Egyptian setter Abdalla Abdel Salam used his skillful
setting to the strong opposite Ahmed Salah to come near 5-3
before the Russian team again controlled the net through their
tall middle blockers Alexander Volkov and Alexei Ostapenko to
reach to 8-5 by the first technical timeout. Egypt arranged
their backline defense against the strong Russian rockets of the
service to come near 13-11 for Russia. Again Russia used the
strong service of Abramov and Evgeny Matkovski to reach to the
STT at 16-11. Russia used the unstable Egyptian defense and
reception to win the set comfortably 25-15.
In the second set, the Egyptian coach changed some positions
putting the middle blocker Mohamed Aly in the main line up and
thus Egypt led 4-3 and 7-6 before Russia penetrated theri block
several times to lead for the first time in this set 8-7. Again
Russia used the talent placing behind the block which succeeded
many times to bring direct points and Russia reached to 16-12
mark in the second technical timeout. Egypt improved their block
and used the spike service of Saleh Fathy to improve the score
to 23-21. Abdalla used also his well known service to allow
Egypt to draw 23-23 and 25-25. It was the most exciting part of
the match when the draw was repeated 10 times and Egypt lost 7
set points before Russia won the set 36-34.
In the third set Russia again used the strong spikes of Abramov
to lead 3-2. Egypt again arranged their block and digging to
lead 4-3. Again Russia was the better disciplined team in block
and spiking and aslo they used the frequent reception and
digging mistakes of the Egyptian team to lead 16-13. Egypt team
tried to survive and save the match but Russia succeeded to end
the set 25-19 and the match in straight sets.
Press Conference
Egypt team Captain, Hamdy El Safy:
I want to congratulate Russia for the victory. We played good
today against one of the world class teams as I know well the
Russian league as I played there since 2 years and it includes
very good players. I think we will play good in the next match
as we are full team now.
Russia team captain, Vadim Khamuttskikh:
I'm glad to win this match but I think we are affected by the
frequent flight to different countries in the last weekends. I
hope to play better in the second match.
Egypt Head Coach Grzegrez Rys:
Although we lost the match but I'm happy with the fighting
spirit of my players through this match specially in the second
set when we were near to win and lost seven set points. I think
now we are improving from one match to another but I want to
mention that we are full team for the first time in this world
league after the return back of all our stars. We were affected
by the late preparations and I think we will do better in the
next matches.
Russia Head coach, Vladimir Alekno:
I'm happy with the victory and the good performance of our
players. I think we give pleasure to the Egyptian spectators
today. Our perfromance was affected in the second set when we
used our substitues but my target is usually to use all our
players.
Photo Caption
Rys Grzegorz, head coach of
Egypt speaks with Shaarawy Hossam
Russia
used their efficient middle blockers and the stable performance
of the backline defense to achieve a straight sets victory over
Egypt 25-15, 36-34, 25-19 in 87 minutes of exciting volleyball
that entertained more than spectators who attended the match in
the big Hall of Cairo Stadium Complex in the third weekend of
the intercontinental round of the 2007 World League on Friday.
