Press release
Russia comes out triumphant from a five sets battle against Korea
Korea's Gyeong-Bok Na rushed away from all the other scorers with 25 tallies
Almirante Brown, Argentina, August 24, 2011 - The last chapter of a day of exhausting action in Almirante Brown raised even more the bet. In an intense five-setter, Russia defeated Korea (25-20, 19-25, 18-25, 25-16, 15-10) and moved to the second place of Pool H, only behind Iran.
Korean Gyeong-Bok Na achieved a complete set for his side as he scored 25 points, while Russia shared the damage between Stanislav Masliev (14 tallies), Vladimir Manerov and Vladimir Chivel (11 points each). The long Chivel nailed 6 blocks, half of them in the decisive set.
The match started with errors on both sides, but Russia stepped forward to 8-3. Korea shortened the difference with a good performance of his killer Na, but Russian captain Manerov, the key player of the set, pushed his side to a 16-12 lead. Masliev contributed to the cause in the final track, spiked the last ball and gave his team the 25-20.
The second set started very leveled, with Korea showing problems in seving and Russia taking a little advantage to 8-7. The Asians bounced back with the captain Myung-Geun Song doing his best, to changed the tide to 16-14. The set continued in a point-by-point basis and the Koreans, with Na and Song in a high gear, won the second set in 25-19.
The momentum continued as the Koreans showed better skills for an 8-7 lead in the third set. Seong-Tae Jin joined the battle and was importante to improve the advantage to 16-12. Everything went downhill from Korea then, until a service error of Chivel that netted the 25-18.
Korea started winning the fourth chapter, but only for a short while, as Russia took advantage of the many opponent errores and led by 8-4. Russia overcame the difficulties and improved the serves, so they could reach to the second TTO 16-9. The Russian team maintained the difference, with a good contribution of Ilya Nikitin and Pavel Pankov, and won the set by 25-16 with a sharp spike of Masliev.
Even the tie break was close. Both teams failed in serving in the first track and Russia took the lead after three great blocks. The teams traded sides with a Soviet lead in 8-6, and quickly two new blocks of Chivel widened the lead. Korea never returned to the game and Russia spiked its way to the 15-10 and the match.
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