Poland celebrate victory over Russia in their opening 2015 FIVB World League match
Gdansk, Poland, May 28, 2015 – In the biggest match of the 2015 World League so far, reigning world champions Poland pulled out a smooth three set victory over Olympic champions Russia 3-0 (25-16, 25-17, 25-20).
The result for Poland is the teams fifth ever win over Russia in their 17 recorded World League clashes and the ‘Match of the Week’, saw the outstanding debut of the young Polish player Mateusz Bieniek who notched up 14 points.
Bartosz Kurek was top scorer of the day with 15 points and the result places Poland at the top of Pool B, with Iran and the United States yet to play within the group.
Poland’s team captain Michal Kubiak said, "First of all, I would like to thank our fans, who found time to come here in the middle of the week and cheer for us. Both me and my team are really grateful for that. We managed to win in our first match against Russia, but now that’s behind us. We try to forget about the result and focus only on the tomorrow’s game."
Stephane Antiga, head coach of Poland said, "This is a great start of the competition for us and I’m really satisfied. It was hard to expect anything, because none of the teams had played any sparring matches before the start of the season. What I could see, was my team’s commitment and positive mindset in their training. Everybody is working really hard, even if some of them started training later and are still not in their top shape.”
Key points• Poland closed the three set win over Russia in 1 hour and 27 minutes.
• Poland held the lead the entire match with Russia failing to earn a single serve point.
• Poland and Russia will meet again on May 29 in Gdansk, Poland.
• Poland top Pool B with Iran and the United States still to play.
• Belgium’s Sam Deroo still leads the scoring with 47 points ahead of Urpo Sivula of Finland with 42 points, while Dick Kooy of the Netherlands with 39 points.
Top scoring performances• 25 – Sam Deroo of Belgium v Finland (May 23)
• 25 - Dick Kooy of Netherlands v Portugal (May 17)
• 24 - Hugo Gaspar of Portugal v Netherlands (May 17)
• 22 – Sam Deroo of Belgium v Finland (May 24)
• 21 – Gert Van Walle of Belgium v Finland (May 24)
• 21 - Antti Siltala of Finland v Belgium (May 24)
• 21 - Antti Siltala of Finland v Belgium (May 23)
• 21 - Urpo Sivula of Finland v Belgium (May 23)
• 21 - Kay van Dijk of Netherlands v Portugal (May 17)
• 19 - Alexandre Ferreira of Portugal v Netherlands (May 17)
• 19 - Gavin Schmitt of Canada v Cuba (May 17)
• 17 - Gavin Schmitt of Canada v Cuba (May 16)
• 15 - Bartosz Kurek of Poland v Russia (May 28)
Top scoring performances by team• 117 – Belgium v Finland (May 24)
• 113 – Belgium v Finland (May 23)
• 108 – Finland v Belgium (May 24)
• 106 - Netherlands v Portugal (May 17)
• 105 – Finland v Belgium (May 23)
• 102 - Portugal v Netherlands (May 17)
• 98 - Netherlands v Portugal (May 16)
• 86 - Portugal v Netherlands (May 16)
• 75 - Poland v Russia (May 28)
Top blocking performances• 5 – Pieter Coolman of Belgium v Finland (May 24)
• 5 – Sam Deroo of Belgium v Finland (May 23)
• 5 - Cornelius Bontje Johannes of Netherlands v Portugal (May 17)
• 4 – Eemi Tervaportti of Finland v Belgium (May 23)
• 4 - Nimir Abdel-Aziz of Netherlands v Portugal (May 16)
• 4 – Mateusz Bieniek of Poland v Russia (May 28)
• 3 - Fabricio Silva of Portugal v Netherlands (May 17)
• 3 - Joao Jose of Portugal v Netherlands (May 16)
• 3 - Felix Chapman Pineiro of Cuba v Canada (May 16)
• 3 - Graham Vigrass of Canada v Cuba (May 16)
• 3 – Pavel Moroz of Russia v Poland (May 28)
• 3 – Andrzej Wrona of Poland v Russia (May 28)
Top blocking performances by team• 17 – Belgium v Finland (May 23)
• 16 - Netherlands v Portugal (May 17)
• 15 – Belgium v Finland (May 24)
• 13 - Finland v Belgium (May 24)
• 12 - Netherlands v Portgual (May 16)
• 11 - Portugal v Netherlands (May 17)
• 11 – Poland v Russia (May 28)
• 11 – Russia v Poland (May 28)
• 10 - Finland v Belgium (May 23)
• 10 - Cuba v Canada (May 16)
Top serving performances• 6 – Pieter Coolman of Belgium v Finland (May 23)
• 4 – Antti Siltala of Finland v Belgium (May 23)
• 4 - Dick Kooy of Netherlands v Portugal (May 17)
• 3 - Andre Reis Lopes of Portugal v Netherlands (May 17)
• 3 - Jeroen Rauwerdink of Netherlands v Portugal (May 16)
• 3 - Andre Reis Lopes of Portugal v Netherlands (May 16)
• 3 – Mateusz Bieniek of Poland v Russia (May 28)
Top serving performances by team• 10 – Belgium v Finland (May 23)
• 9 - Portugal v Netherlands (May 16)
• 8 – Belgium v Finland (May 24)
• 7 – Finland v Belgium (May 24)
• 7 - Portugal v Netherlands (May 17)
• 6 – Finland v Belgium (May 23)
• 6 - Canada v Cuba (May 17)
• 6 – Poland V Russia (May 28)
Highest scorer by round• Day 1: 17 - Gavin Schmitt of Canada v Cuba (May 16)
• Day 2: 25 - Dick Kooy of Netherlands v Portugal (May 17)
• Day 3: 25 - Sam Deroo of Belgium v Finland (May 23)
• Day 5: 15 - Bartosz Kurek of Poland v Russia (May 28)
Highest set score• Day 1: Canada v Cuba, 26-24 (May 16)
• Day 2: Canada v Cuba and Portugal v Netherlands, 26-24 (May 17)
• Day 3: Belgium v Finland, 30-28 (May 23)
• Day 4: Belgium v Finland, 31-29 (May 24)
• Day 5: Poland v Russia, 25-20 (May 28)
Highest scoring matches• Day 1: Netherlands v Portugal (May 16) (23-25, 25-20, 25-21, 25-20) - 184
• Day 2: Netherlands v Portugal (May 17) (17-25, 25-18, 24-26, 25-21, 25-12) - 208
• Day 3: Belgium v Finland (May 23) (25-20, 30-28, 20-25, 23-25, 15-7) - 218
• Day 4: Belgium v Finland (May 24) (29-31, 25-20, 23-25, 25-21, 15-11) – 225
• Day 5: Poland v Russia (May 28) (25-16, 25-17, 25-20) – 128