Tours, France, June 25, 2015 - France made it a magnificent eight in a row with a 3-0 (25-20, 25-19, 25-21) victory with Antonin Rouzier again leading from the front for France scoring a game-changing 19 points as France sent the home crowd wild to make the final four with a 100% record
With France looking to pick up their eighth win in a row in Pool D, it was the home team that were first out of the blocks taking an early 9-5 lead. Kevin Tillie and Antonin Rouzier were again leading from the front for France as Japan were finding it hard to cling onto the in-form France side. A brief comeback from Japan saw them save three set points at 24-17 but France duly took the first set 25-20 to take a 1-0 lead.
Japan needed a response early in the second set and to stop the French momentum and managed to keep level in the early stages reaching 7-7. The midway part of the set continued on a knife edge with both teams trading points before France edged in front at 15-13 with Rouzier in striking, spiking form. The lead gradually increased as France were seemingly intent on finishing the tie early and they took a 2-0 lead with a 25-19 second set win.
The third set was again to be a tight affair early on with Japan making the first break to lead 8-6. However France were again set on winning in straight sets and edge the tie back in their favour with Rouzier storming ahead in points for France to turn the set around to lead 14-11. France continued to increase the lead and wrapped up their place in the final four and continue their 100% record in Pool D in 2015 with a 25-21 win for a 3-0 victory.
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