Germany back in Grand Prix contention after 3:1 victory over Turkey

Luxembourg, Luxembourg, August 16, 2014.  Other than the qualification of Brazil for the Final Six in Japan, Friday’s matches in Group 1 of the FIVB Volleyball World Grand Prix 2014 have not made the situation in the group any clearer, promising fierce battles for points in the remaining pool play games on Saturday and Sunday.

In the all-European Pool H in Kaliningrad, Germany beat Turkey by 3:1 (20-25, 36-34, 25-20, 25-22) to shoot from eighth up to the qualifying fourth position in the current standings with 11 points from four wins and three losses so far.  Turkey’s second defeat so far cost the team the second place, as it dropped to third with 13 points, allowing China, now with 16 points after a 3:1 victory over Korea, to climb up in the table.  “This match was really difficult,” Germany’s captain Margareta Kozuch admitted.  “Last week in Turkey we lost the match.  We worked hard to improve our game.  It was a real battle as you could see in the second set and we are very happy we won the match.”

Serbia fell out of the top four after losing by 1:3 (17-25, 25-10, 17-25, 19-25) to Japan in Macau.  However, the southern European squad is still well in contention for tickets to Japan as it also has 11 points in the fifth place.  “We are very disappointed.  We did not start well and made many mistakes especially in our serves,” Serbia’s captain Maja Ognjenovic said after the game.  “We hope to get into the game against China tomorrow and to play our best."

Three teams with 10 points each follow in the standings.  Two of them actually met in the second Kaliningrad match on Friday.  Host Russia defeated Italy by 3:1 (25-27, 25-19, 25-19, 25-18) to take the eighth place, leaving the opponent in sixth with USA stuck in between.  "In the first set we had some problems with our serving and reception,” Russia’s captain Ekaterina Kosianenko commented.  “We played against a very strong opponent and we needed a strong serve.  In the second set, we coped with our mistakes and showed a better game.  It was such a pleasure to play in a hall with such a wonderful crowd.  We had a very good mood."

Despite losing a point after a 3:2 (29-31, 22-25, 25-22, 25-19, 15-9) U-turn against USA in Bangkok, Brazil has formally secured its place among the finalists as it stands on top of the table still unbeaten and already with 20 points against its name.  In the other match from that pool bottom-placed host Thailand beat the Dominican Republic by 3-1 to surpass its opponent for the penultimate spot in the current standings.

Click here for more info on the 2014 FIVB Volleyball World Grand Prix.