MATCH INFO

Niterói, Brazil, August 9th, 2011 – Germany defeated Canada, 3 -1 (16-25, 25-19, 25-23, 25-18) in the semifinals for the ninth-place match on Tuesday morning at Caio Martins Gymnasium at the FIVB Volleyball Men´s Junior World Championship 2011.

Germany (3-4 overall) will duel for ninth place with the winner of the second semifinal between Japan and Belgium early this afternoon.  Canada (3-4) will play the losing team for 11th place.

Germany’s Simon Hirsch was the leading scorer in the match with 24 points on a match-high 22 attacks and two blocks. Tom Strohbach added 12 points on spikes. Bradley Kufske led Canada with 17 points on 16 spikes and one block. Lucas Van Berkel and Nicholas Hoag each had three aces for Canada, which led Germany in aces (7-3) and blocks (10-9). Germany led in spikes (52-47) and also scored 27 points on Canada’s errors while giving up 21.

In the first set, Canada didn’t have many problems beating Germany, which gave up six points in errors to their opponent. Canada got off to a fast start in the first set and grabbed an 8-4 lead at the first technical timeout (TTO). With Canada leading 8-5, Canada scored when Germany’s serve went long. Canada’s Tommy Belisle took the serve and helped his team to the next four points, including an ace and two Canadian blocks, to lead 13-5. Germany struggled to put together a run of points and Canada went on to win the set 25-16.

Germany took an 8-5 took an 8-5 lead at the first TTO of the second set. With Germany still leading 11-8, Hohne scored with a left side attack, then combined with Oskar Klingner for a block. Klingner scored with another block to give Germany a 14-8 lead. Canada did not respond.

Canada held a 9-5 advantage in the third set and led 16-11 at the second TTO, but Germany came out of the break scoring two straight points. With Canada leading 18-14, Germany scored four straight points to tie the score. The teams battled back and forth. With the scored tied 22-22, Germany’s Simon Hirsch connected on an attack and Klingner followed with an ace to give Germany set point. Canada’s Tommy Belisle scored with an attack off the block, but Hirsch won the set for Germany with a right-side spike.

Germany again took an early lead in the fourth set, leading 8-5 at the first TTO and increasing that to 16-11 at the second as Hirsch took control of the set for his team. Germany reached match point at 24-17. Canada’s Kufske held off the loss with a left-side attack, but Hohne ended the match with an attack down the left line.