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Canada sensationally won with Serbia. Canada caused the major surprise at the world championship! Poland secured their spot in next round after winning a tie-break with Germany.
Coach Igor Kolakovic decided to give some rest to his best players, Nicola Grbic and Ivan Miljkovic and started the game with totally different six. Ambitious Canadians made use of this decision and managed to overcome Serbian attack and defense.
Especially in defense guys of coach Glenn Hoag showed their excellence and libero Dan Lewis also confirmed his high-class skills. Even young star of Serbia, Sasa Starovic, had serious problems to crush Canadian block. Canada sensationally won the first set and this made coach Igor Kolakovic to bring back on pool both Grbic and Miljkovic. Surprisingly Serbia managed to win only third set and lost the whole match. Players from Balkans committed too many errors in serve while Canadians tried to play as concentrated as possible. Due to this unexpected victory Mainville and his teammates still got chance to play further. If they keep their concentration and belief in themselves, their dream may come true.
Canada-Serbia 3-1 (25-20, 25-22, 17-25, 25-23)
Team squads:
Serbia: Kovacevic (17), Nikic (16), Petkovic (1), Starović (8), Stankovic (7), Podrascanin (8), Samardzic (libero) and Terzic, Grbic (4), Janic, Miljkovic (16)
Canada: Mainville( 9), Simac (3), Schneider (1), Van Lankvelt (11), Schmitt (10), Winters (14), Lewis (libero) and Howatson, Soonias (6), Cundy, Duff (7), Perrin(1)
Poland and Germany clashed in the thrilling tie-break. From the very beginning of the game both teams were playing point by point and it was extremely difficult to predict the winner. Poland won the first and third set due to better attack and serve while Germany had some problems in reception. Situation on the pool was completely different during the second and fourth part of the match when Germans played fast and effective volleyball, damaging Polish defense by playing difficult actions at wings and strongly spiking. Top-scorers Bartosz Kurek and Gyorgy Grozer didn’t start the game well but from one action to another were improving their performance which end up in the amazing rivalry. Also defense was a strength of both teams and Polish libero Krzysztof Ignaczak was like doubling himself in order to help his team to win. Only in the fifth set there was a one, visibly better team – Poland. Guys of coach Daniel Castellani made use of their experience in playing at the international level and kept more cold blood for the crucial moments of the match. Thanks to this victory Poland secured their spot in the further stage of the tournament.
Poland-Germany 3-2 (25-20, 21-25, 25-22, 22-25, 15-13)
Team squads:
Poland: Nowakowski (13), Winiarski (7), Zagumny (7), Kurek (24), Wlazły (6), Możdżonek (10), Ignaczak (libero) and Gruszka (10), Czarnowski, Bąkiewicz, Łomacz.
Germany: Andrae (16), Bohme (5), Kromm (20), Gunthor (4), Steuerwald (1), Grozer (18) Tille (libero) and Tischer (1), Kaliberda, Schops (5)