The match evaluated the most important in the whole A Pool cycle in the Intercontinental Round ended with 3:2 for SCG in an ecstatic atmosphere of Sports Hall “Pionir” in Belgrade.

In the full house of this great hall, the first set started with great nervousness and insecure moves of the SCG Team. After only 5 minutes it was 6:6. The SCG made many mistakes which was well used by the US Team. After an ace of Suxho and 12:15, followed by the counterattack of SCG and another point and they came to 14. Clayton spiked for the first TTO. Confusion on the part of SGC and Travica had to call for the TO, trying to consolidate the Team. The US Team was determined to give their  best and a block of Millar and Stanley ruined SCG hopes at 15:20 and Travica called for the second TO. A new combination and the point was theirs, after which another spike of Miljkovic turned on Mc Cutcheon to call for a TO. But Polster passed for the 21^st point, yet another point from the SCG Team and 20:22. A joint action of Suxho and Priddy made another point. Vujevic’s spike came at the right moment, but not enough to make it worth, as the service was out and the set finished in 25 min.

The beginning of the second set was much like the first without the real game of the SCG Team. Hardly any block and many confusions in the field. Miljkovic spiked on Polster. Another action of the SCG Team and Boskan tried to spike hard but only to attack the block of the US. After the strong service of Miljkovic, US succeeded in defending and setting the ball within the line. With bad reception and practically no defense, US Team scored ppoint after point. Finally Vujevic found an unguarded spot inbetween the block. Suxho digged well for a point but also missed a service, giving a chance to SCG Team  Miljkovic and Bjelica were unable to put up the block for another attack of the US Team. An ace of Priddy and it was 6:9. Travica called for a TO.

Concentrated game of the Amercian Team led to points with rare mistakes and catching every ball coming to them.  An ace of Eatherton and it was 7:12. Boskan spiked into the antenna, after which Bjelica spiked from the middle and scored finally. Two points in a row but then a spike that Miljkovic was unable to defend - 10:14.

Both Stanley and Miljkovic made service mistakes and in spite of Mitrovic who tried t catch the ball the point was lost and US Team came to their 2 TTO. It was a four man block that stopped Miljkovic. Suxho and Eatherton were unable to defend from Vujovic on Suxho and 15:17, after which Mc Cutcheon asked for TO.

Vujovic passed the US block and scored 17:19. Bjelica, Mitrovis and Miljkovic on the block defended well and came close, but US Team went into their defense and scored 20^th point. Bjelica again found a soft spot and scored their 19^th. Having defended with the block they left a space open in the middle and it was 19:21. After Stanley’s service mistake, Grbic came in and Mitrovic spiked beside the US block. In a great rally, and the point 22 for US Team the ball went 22 m high but they succeeded in catching the ball and scored. Block out of Mitrovic and a point into the second zone by Vujevic. A block out of Vujevic and it was 23:23. Too strong block of the US Team and a TO by Travica. A miss of the US Team and a ball that came off from Miljkovic under the net.

Another good point of a very strong and concentrated US Team and the set was over.

The third set started with service of Eatherton and a point of Bjelica in the middle of US block. Lack of concentration and a mistake in the field, but then a block out of Vujevic. Mitrovic scored another point spiking hard, but another confusion of the SCG Team and it was 3:2. Polster’s service and a spike of Stanley. But it was Geric’s turn to find the way through. Millar saved the unsavable ball but an out and a point was theirs. The whole hall was on their feet, cheering hard for their favorites. Stanley again spiked in the block and led by 4:5. Geric’s absolute ace. With Bjelica and Mitrovic on the block the ball just went in. And a block out of Geric to go first to a TTO. Another ace of Geric to 9:5. Priddy got nervous on the net and spiked pass SCG block. Extraordinary long rallies wonderful for the spectators. The US Team caught almost every ball. But Suxho missed and the “Blue” Team continued in a long and strange rally which ended in an out by US. So McCutcheon called for a TO. Priddy went pass the block, but then it was a block out for SCG Team. Eatherton spiked on the unguarded 2^nd zone. Bjelica went on the net to spike a point, but he missed the service and it was back to US. The SCG succeeded in defense and scored another point while Geric found a spot between to come to the 2^nd TTO.

Again Miljkovic missed the service. Smart point of Petkovic and catching the ball of Mitrovic but they were unable to return it. Vujevic passed Suxho, but the 3-men block  could only receive the ball. Miljkovic again spiked. But after 2 points in a row by SCG Team, US became confused and McCutcheon called for a TO. Bjelica and Miljkovic on the block and another point. Mckienzie instead of Stanley couldn’t pass through the block but did on the 14 point. Priddy aced on Roljic and Travica asked for a TO. Priddy again on the service, but this time Petkovic received it well and Miljkovic hit a killer spike for 24:15. McKienzie passed the ball through the hair of Mitrovic. Miljkovic’s ball passed Gardner and the set was won.

Vujevic on the first service and an out at the very beginning. Miljkovic scored with a killer and then it was Bjelica who spiked from the middle. Vujevic’s service mistake was a relief for the US Team at 3:1 but not for long. Miljkovic blocked out. A small confusion and soon it was 4:3. Both Teams scored from block-outs but then Priddy couldn’t pass the  3-men block and Geric and Petkovic blocked softly to the first TTO. Miljkovic spiked to a block out and a point for SCG Team. Another out through the US block, and again Miljkovic through Eatherton and Stanley on the net. McCutcheon called for TO.  A block-out by Eatherton. Again confusion and a mistake placing the ball that went on the hand of Miljkoivc. Very soft ball off from the hand of Geric from the 2^nd zone. The block on the net opened for Merciless Vujovic from the back, and they were at 16:10. Then it was SCG Team getting back all balls until Miljkoivc scored with a spike. An unbeatable spike from Miljkovic. At 18:10, the US Team scored from almost impossible position and Polster made a service mistake. Miljkovic spiked again making the US Team take impossible moves to catch the ball. Another service mistake by Mitrovi and Millar on the service, with a confusion in SCG Team it was 20:13. But then Millar made a service mistake. Another smart move of Petkovic and 22:14. Block out for the US Team and Priddy made a service mistake thus bringing the SCG Team closer to the end of the set. Roljic was too eager to dig the ball which went into the US field. Miljkovic on the net meant menace to the US Team and Bjelica aced the set point.

The fifth set started with the service of Priddy and after the first tempo the ball was too high, just enough for Miljkovic to spike, but Stanley returned the point.. Mitrovic spiked hard to a block out and Petkovic sent the ball out. Third point for the US Team after a badly received ball. Mitrovic succeeded in passing Suxho/Millar block. But Stanley spiked also to a point leading 3:4. Miljkovic equaled jumping high. Geric struck into the net and US led. Too eager to win, confusion in SCG Team lost them a point but Suxho struck the net.

After the Ace of Vujevic, and an out by US Team the sides changed, but Vujevic struck into the net. Priddy on the service and Miljkovic was there to find a diagonal into their side. Bjelica missed again on the service. Eatherton on the service, but Mitrovic’s spike was not successful this time and they were at 9:9, but there was an out by US Team. Point by point they played. At 11:9, McCutcheon called for a TO. Grbic entered the court but Miljkovic missed the service. Stanley served and Mitrovic went so hard that it was a block out and 12:10. Polster passed the block and Miljkvoc spiked again. McC asked for another TO for the US. Stanley against a two men block and a block out. Millar on the service but Bjelica scored and it was the set and match ball served by Petkovic. But the US Team scored, so Travica called for a TO. Suxho on the service and out of the court for a set and match ball.

The crowd roared standing the last set all way through - Victory after all.