Sao Bernardo do Campo, Brazil, June 7, 2015 - Lucarelli scored twenty points to take FIVB Volleyball World League Pool A leaders Brazil to victory over Australia at a packed Ginasio Poliesportivo Adib Moyses Dib in São Bernardo do Campo on Sunday. The win means Brazil currently top Pool A with 11 points, ahead of Italy, Serbia and Australia. Their opponents today are yet to win in this year's edition of the World League.
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Team Brazil rapidly moved into the lead in set 1, taking the score to 11-5. The Australians, however, clawed their way back to 16-13 before a timeout, and went on to level scores at 16-all thanks to a Paul Sanderson ace. Brazil maintained their composure, however, to again take the lead, before the Volleyroos levelled scores at 22-22, then 23-23 and 24-24. Raphael and Wallace re-entered the court to help their team win the set, but Brazil missed three serves in a row before Raphael's float serve claimed the decisive point at 31-29.
Australia continued to show their worth in set two, immediately moving out to a three-point lead. Brazil, however, were quick to make their way back into contention, building to a three-point cushion at 16-13 before claiming the set with a comfortable margin at 25-19.
Brazil entered the third set wanting to make sure Australia would not be able to make their way back into the match. Superlative combination play rapidly put Brazil in the driving seat at 5-1. Australia were anxious to put a last-chance challenge together, but Brazil continued to soak up the pressure from Thomas Edgar's powerful spikes.
The team scoring skills stats say it all. Blocks 7 to 1, aces 6 to 1, attacks 61% (43/70) to 55% (44/80). Australia conceded 24 unforced errors to Brazil's 20.
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