MATCH INFO

Hamamatsu, Japan, November 29, 2011 – Second-placed Russia took their 6-1 record into a tough match against Cuba in third-round play of the 2011 FIVB Men’s World Cup on Tuesday. They won the match 3-1 (25-23, 25-27, 25-18, 25-12) thanks to Maxim Mikhaylov, who put on a scoring clinic.

Mikhaylov led Russia in scoring, as he has throughout this World Cup, this time putting up 28 points. Cuba’s Fernando Hernandez Ramos, the tournament’s second-leading scorer with 135 points going into this match, added 17 points to that total. Russia had 13 blocks in the contest, with Mikhaylov and Alexander Volkov posting four each. 

Men’s World Cup Results/Standings, Match Info, Photos or Live Scoring

Both sides started shaky, showing nerves early with Russia serving three errors to Cuba’s two. Cuba was first to settle down, with a pair of aces from Sandobal Isbel Mesa and Hernandez to go up 11-7. Russia got rolling on an 8-1 run capped by a spectacular defensive play by a sprawling Alexander Sokolov, who had to head the ball back over the net on a wonderful point Russia would eventually take to leapfrog Cuba at 16-13. Yassel Perdomo Naranjo showed spirit late with two strong blocks to tie at 22-22, but from there Mikhaylov denied Cuba single-handedly by scoring Russia’s last three points (of his eight in the set) to win 25-23.

Mikhaylov continued attacking well to start the second, complemented by Volkov with a spike and an ace back-to-back to go up 8-4. Cuba couldn’t get into any offensive rhythm, but a number of Russia errors kept them in the set at 22-19. After a Volkov spike had Russia seemingly in control 24-21, Cuba bounced back with four incredible blocks, including one by Wilfredo Leon on Mikhaylov to steal a setpoint. From there he took the set as well with a hard spike at 27-25 leading to one set apiece.

The teams exchanged points to start the third until Sergey Tetyukhin and Mikhaylov pitched in a pair each to edge out 12-10. They would hold that margin until 17-15 when Russia pulled off six unanswered points, including great blocks by Volkov and Mikhaylov and capped by a Nikolay Apalikov ace. An errant serve into the net by Perdomo ended a disappointing set for the Cubans, 25-18.

Russia was laser-focused to open the fourth with Apalikov delivering back-to-back aces (he had four in the match) to help put his team comfortably ahead 7-0 on a run that included Volkov’s fourth block in the match on Perdomo. They rode that cushion until their captain Taras Khtey put a gorgeous block on Hernandez to go ahead 19-11. After that Cuba appeared to fold, allowing Russia to take the final six points, and the set 25-12.