Talking Stats: Russia overcome five-set losing spell; Italy end losing streak
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Russia foiled the Final Round debut of Iran in a five-set match |
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Lausanne, Switzerland, July 16, 2014 – Russia
prevailed a five-set match against Iran, while Italy scored a straight sets victory
over USA, in the opening matches of the Final Six of the 2014 FIVB Volleyball
World League at the Nelson Mandela Forum on Wednesday. Statistical Review – Day 1 – World League Finals
Iran put on a commanding performance as
they stunned defending champions Russia in the first set. The Russians later on
raced to triumph on the succeeding two sets. On the fourth set, the match went
down to the wire as both teams refused to give up – Russia wanting to secure
the match, while Iran aiming to extend the match into the tiebreaker – bringing
the set score to a close at 37-35 in favour of Iran.
Iran used its fourth set momentum to start
their fifth set run but Russia paced to counter-attack and establish a significant
lead to secure set and match.
- Russia finally broke their
five-setter losing spell after losing their last four five-set matches in this
season.
- For the first time since the
2011 World League final, Russia won a Final Round match after losing the first
set.
- Iran won the fourth set 37-35,
which equalled the most points in a single set in Groups 1 and 2, it was also
the most points conceded in a set for Russia which they lost.
- Russia have now won nine of
their last 10 Final Round matches in the World League.  Meanwhile, Italy pierced the defence of USA
just enough to finish the match in straight sets. The Italians showed better
control in the end game and commanded strong performances from Ivan Zaytsev and
Jiri Kovar, who scored 21 and 10 points, respectively.
- Italy have ended their longest
losing streak of six matches in World League history.
- USA are on a downhill and have
now lost three of their last four World League matches – all three are straight-set
defeats.
- The last time Italy started the
Final Round with a straight sets victory was in 2004 in Rome, where the Final
Round was last held in Italy.
- Italy have now won three World
League matches without losing a set this season, equalling their total straight
set wins from 2013.
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