Kazan, Russia, June 20, 2015 - Opposite spiker Bartosz Kurek scored 23 points in Poland's 3-2 (19-25, 25-21, 26-24, 20-25, 16-14) win against Russia in Pool B of the FIVB World League.
Russia, who are yet to win their first World League match in 2015, started today full of determination and snatched a two-point lead at the first technical time-out. Poland struggled to find their rhythm in the first set as a solid performance in attack helped Russia to a confident 25-19 win. The visitors were able to change things around in the second set with a powerful display in offence from Bieniek and Mika. They took a 13-10 lead, which they were able to preserve to win the set and tie things up in the match.
Russia started the third set well by going 5-1 up. Poland, however, relied on their impressive counterattack and tied the score at 12-all. Both teams were level until, at 23-22 for Poland, a Russian service error gave the visitors two set points. Russia were able to save both of them, but they quickly lost the next two points and conceded the set, 26-24. Poland looked on their way to another victory over Russia as they raced off to a 5-1 lead in the fourth set. Once again, Russia proved just how determined they were to earn their first World League win of the season and quickly made things level again at 5-all. Towards the end of the set Poland struggled with Sergey Savin's serves as the home side established a healthy 22-18 lead. They were able to close out the set to force Poland into a tie-breaker.
The fifth set saw Russia maintain a one-point advantage until Piotr Nowakowski put Poland 12-11 in front. Russia then earned a match point, which Poland where able to save. The home side saw their next two spikes fly long as Poland won the fifth set, 16-14.
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