Taraz, Kazakhstan, June 12, 2015 - In an exciting five-set match Kazakhstan earned their first 2015 World League victory with 3-2 (25-22, 31-33, 25-23, 28-30, 15-9) over Venezuela at home.
The home side opened the match with an 11-7 lead. Venezuela quickly found their rhythm and took a one-point advantage at the second technical time-out. However, a few misfired spikes coupled with solid blocking from Stolnikov allowed Kazakhstan to come out on top in the first set. The second set saw Venezuela patiently building their lead to 21-17, before great blocking from Kuznetsov and attack from Mamedov and Stolnikov tied the score at 23-all. In a thrilling finish to the set Kazakhstan squandered two set points. They were able to save a few of Venezuela's set points as well, but in the end Vitaliy Vorivodin sent his spike out handing the visitors the second set, 33-31.
With both teams eager to take the lead in the match, the third set was too close to call. Kazakhstan managed to break away at 22-all earning two set points. Quijada's spike down the middle helped the visitors save the first set point, but Pinerua Urbina put his serve out to give Kazakhstan the third set, 25-23. Spurred by the victory in the previous set, Kazakhstan raced away to an 11-7 lead in the fourth. The visitors were not ready to give up just yet as they slowly found their way back into the set reclaiming the lead at 18-17. In yet another tight finish two spikes from Mamedov and a service error from Quijada allowed the home side to save three set points before missing two match points of their own. In the end Sergey Kostiv saw one of his spikes sail long and another one blocked as Venezuela claimed the fourth set, 30-28.
In the tie-breaker both teams went back and forth before and error from Pinerua Urbina handed the home side a two-point lead at 10-8. In the final stages of the set great spiking from middle blocker Anton Kuznetsov led Kazakhstan to a 15-9 victory. There is more action to come in Taraz on Saturday as Kazakhstan take on Egypt and Venezuela play against Spain.
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