2011 FIVB World Grand Prix: Russia, Germany and Italy kick-off great start in European Qualification Tournament
The 2011 FIVB World Grand Prix Qualification Tournament started out on Friday, 17th September, 2010. The Italian City Cagliari became the host of this thrilling volleyball extravaganza in Europe. The event is scheduled to complete its run in six
days and final standings will be revealed on 22nd September, 2010.
On the opening day of the tournament, three matches were played. Russian ladies were challenged by the Netherlands’ team while Germany clashed with Turkey. In the third match, host Italia battled out with Bulgaria. At the end of first day, Russia, Germany,
and Italy emerged as winners of their opening matches.
The Netherlands vs. Russia
The inaugurating match of the tournament featured a classy performance by Russia and Netherlands. The match was a 5-set thriller which was full of breath-taking moments. The Netherlands’ team had the competitive edge in the game, as they seized 2009 European
Silver medal in Holland and looked totally shaped up for a good fight. Likewise, the Russian girls had the great team-line and they were administered by a hard-working coach.
The first set belonged to the Russia’s team as they played with a great temperament. Dutch team was not comfortable in their positions and went through a transition process in the first set. The unsteadiness of Dutch players helped Russian team to take the
game away from them. They claimed first-set victory by attaining a score of 30-28. Somehow, the Oranjes found their feet in the second set and retuned the score to Russia. Netherlands posted 25-22 in the second set. They followed the same strategy in third
set and remained successful by getting another triumph. Russia stepped up in fourth set and broke Dutch lead in the game. The girls from Russia displayed good effort and paralleled the score at 2-2 at the end of fourth set.
The game was tied and huge pressure was mounted on both sides. The fifth set proved to be the decisive set. Russian Gamova and Duskryadchenko attacked Dutch defence line and snatched fifth-set from Netherlands with a difference of two points. Russia celebrated
victory in the first match of qualification tournament.
Germany vs. Turkey
The second match of the day saw Germany and Turkey in the court. The Turks opened the first set with nice floaters. They earned the early points to build their lead. The first set came successful to them and they pushed the points’ counter to 25-21. The
coach Giovanni Guidetti appreciated the good work of team in first set and urged them to leave no loop-holes in their defence.
Nonetheless, the happiness was short lived, as Germany stormed back in the following sets. They took a sweet revenge from Turkey by wining second set at 25-23. The German Kozuch bombarded Turkish-half with ground-breaking aces. The third set ended in the
favour of Germany. They further kept the right tempo and ousted Turkey in fourth set. The match victory was claimed by Germany as a result of 3-1 on the scoreboard.
Italy vs. Bulgaria
Italy put a big smile on fans’ faces with first set win against Bulgaria in the third match of the opening day. The support of fans filled them with winning-spirit and they produced confident shots. Italy kept an upper-hand on Bulgaria but it was not an
easy task to deal with tough opponent. Bulgarians regularly stayed very close in the score. However, Italy was equipped with Serena Ortolani, Gioli, and Del Core, who helped the team’s victory against Bulgaria. The visiting team could only catch one set in
the game but Italy defeated them in three sets. Italians marched as the victorious team with a score of 3-1.
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