Brazil and Serbia Opening Wins

Brazil and Serbia had wins in the World League final as everybody starts thinking about the Olympic Volleyball competition coming up, this is a good indication on how teams are travelling up until now, as they prepare for the Olympic Volleyball tournament. Full article FIVB

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, July 23, 2008 – Two 3-0 matches opened the Final Round of the 2008 FIVB World League in Rio. Brazil beat Russia, while Serbia had not faced many problems against USA. Winner of the last five editions of the FIVB World League, reigning Olympic and World Champion Brazil debuted perfectly in the Final Round. In a Volleyball Titans meeting, the team coached by Bernardo Rezende, pushed by more than 10,500 fans, overcame Russia by 3-0 (25-23, 25-18, 25-15) at Maracanazinho Gymnasium. The best scorers of the match were Dante, of Brazil, and Poltavskiy, of Russia, with 16 points each.

 

“We cannot face this result as a real test for Brazil” said Bernardo Rezende, the Brazilian Head Coach. “Russia made many mistakes and did not play in the way they use to do. We need to keep improving.”

 

Russian Head Coach Vladimir Alekno replied: “It is always the same story when we play against Brazil. We dispute point by point and, in the end, they go ahead. We made many mistakes on serving and this was the difference.”

 

In the second match of the day, looking for their first title in FIVB World League, the teams of Serbia and USA opened the Pool F. In the end of the match, the European team won by 3-0 (25-23, 25-19, 25-17) and added their first two points in the rankings. The spiker Ivan Miljkovic, of Serbia, led all scorers with 16 points. The American Clayton Stanley made 10 points.

 

Serbian Captain Nikola Grbic commented: “I am pretty satisfied with our game, especially in block and defense. I really hope we can keep this rhythm until Beijing.”