Rosario, Argentina, May 19, 2008 – Brazil beat Argentina 3-0 at Newell’s Old Boys Stadium to level their Men's Volleyball friendly series at 1-1 over the weekend.
The visitors won 21-25, 20-25, 21-25 in the city of Rosario to follow on from Argentina’s 3-2 victory in the previous match.

Argentina are in training ahead of the Men’s World Olympic Qualification Tournament in Japan from May 31 to June 8.

The Argentines team were set return to Buenos Aires Sunday night to continue with their preparations before travelling to Los Angeles, where the South Americans will play two friendly matches against USA.

Brazil are already qualified for the Olympic Games after winning the 2007 FIVB World Cup.

Junior Thiago Barth added the first four points for the visiting team by spiking and blocking to put the score 2-4 in the first set. Argentina were not concentrating and missed a number of spikes before an ace from Gustavao widened the difference to 10-5.

Diego Stepanenko’s blocking shortened the difference to 11-10 but a time-out requested by Percy Oncken gave the visiting team a good rest and their killer spikes, added to a Thiago ace, made the score 15-10. An ace from Gaston Giani brought the difference to one at 21-20 but three non-forced spiking errors allowed Brazil to close out the set 25-21.

In the second set, Brazil’s confidence grew and they arrived at the first TTO 8-2 ahead with good blocks from Thiago and Theo.

Argentine Concina’s effort brought the score to 12-9 but Brazil’s reactions made the score at the second TTO 16-11. Luciano De Cecco replaced Santiago Orduna in setting and the Argentines seemed to react but the five-point difference was retained when Concina’s spike died on the Brazilian block and the set was closed 25-20.

Argentina were maybe paying for their great effort of the night before. Brazil reached the first TTO of the third set 8-4 ahead and the second 16-11 ahead.

Trying to defend, De Cecco suffered a big hit but soon was back on the field to the cheering of all the fans. Javier Filardi was introduced and helped shorten the difference to 20-17 with an ace but Brazil did not change its attitude and Gustavo Porporatto’s serve that hit the net closed the set 25-21 and the match.