Krakow, Poland, July 4, 2015 - USA secure the leader position in pool B, winning 3-1 (25-20, 25-21, 22-25, 25-23) over Poland in their last encounter in the 2015 World League Intercontinental Round. Both teams are through to the Final Six in Rio in earlier stages of the tournament and were fighting today for the top spot in their pool. Thomas Jaeschke and Rafal Buszek were top scorers with 18 points.
USA take the early lead at 6-4 thanks to good serve by Kawika Shoji. Both teams play well in defence and block and Kurek makes it even at 9-9 with an overkill. Successful spikes keep the game going point by point, but USA go 16-14 by the second technical time out. A Mike serve puts rivals in trouble and allows to even at 17-17, but Poland give USA the lead back with their own errors for 20-17. A block on Mika and an overkill by Shoji give USA five set points and a spike by Kawika Shoji closes the set at 25-20.
Jaeschke shines since the beginning of the set taking USA 5-2 ahead. Poland make many mistakes and the 3 point lead remains on USA side at the technical time out. Lomacz is subbed in for Drzyzga and his distribution helps Poland to even at 14-14, but USA still make it ahead for the second technical time out. Coach Speraw calls a time out when Buszek serves an ace for 20-21. Poland shortly follow with a time out at 24-21 for USA, but Americans finish the set with an overkill by Holmes.
Poland open the third set with a 8-5 advantage by the technical time out. Buszek continues a good performance and puts his team 13-8 ahead. Poland remain 16-12 ahead at the second technical time out. Mika shows his great serving disposition again and a good offence from Buszek and Kurek allow Poland to get 5 set-points. USA make a come back to 22-24, but Kurek seals the deal at 25-22.
The beginning of the fourth set belongs to the hosting team, with an express lead 5-3 increased to 8-5 at the technical time out. Bieniek makes it 12-7 with a nice spike through the middle and USA bring in Lotman to play. Poland lead 18-13 when Shoji fires up from the service line and start a come back of his team. Poland lose the momentum and it is even at 19-19. Jaeschke leads the team in attack to 20-19 and 23-22. Two challenge calls at the end of the set give a win to USA.
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