Press release

London, Great Britain, August 1, 2012 – Russia kept their win-loss record unblemished in three outings following a cruising victory in straight sets (25-7, 25-14, 25-15) victory over winless Algeria in Pool A of the women’s Olympic volleyball tournament at Earls Court on Wednesday.

Liubov Shashkova led Russia with 12 points while Maria Perepelkina went 9-for-12 in her spike attempts to finish with 11 tallies. Nataliya Goncharova registered 10 points and Maria Borisenko contributed 9. Sakia Boukhima finished with 6 points for Algeria.

In a match that lasted just 63 minutes, Russia outblocked Algeria 13-1 with Borisenko and super veteran Evgenia Estes leading the path with five and four respectively.

Liubov Shashkova led Russia with 12 points while Maria Perepelkina went 9-for-12 in her spike attempts to finish with 11 tallies. Nataliya Goncharova registered 10 points and Maria Borisenko contributed 9. Sakia Boukhima finished with 6 points for Algeria.

In a match that lasted just 63 minutes, Russia outblocked Algeria 13-1 with Borisenko and super veteran Evgenia Estes leading the path with five and four respectively.

It was a total mismatch from the start, as Nataliya Goncharova, Evgenia Estes, Ekaterina Gamova, captain Maria Borisenki and Maria Perepelkina rained down spikes on an Algeria defence that was unable to cope. The set was over in 17 minutes as Russia stormed to a 25-7 win - the easiest of the tournament so far.

The same story continued through the next set as Russia's variety of spiking outlets overwhelmed Algeria. Zohra Bensalem, Safia Boukhima and Lydia Oulmou all managed to score for the Africans and they did better than in the nervous first set, but the gap in class was too much. Goncharova, Estes, Gamova, Borisenko, Perepelkina and Liubov Shashkova spiked and blocked reliably. The set ended 25-14.

The third set saw Tatiana Kosheleva also spike well, as Russia finished off the job. The set ended 25-15. Liubov Shashkova was the match's top scorer, with 12 points.

This tall, confident Russian side are still unbeaten and face Japan in the fourth round of preliminary matches on Friday 3 August. Algeria, who have lost all three of their matches, meet Italy.