Amazing scenario in Resistencia for the outstanding Argentina win over France
Resistencia and Corrientes, Argentina, August 14, 2015 - With only the first day of an agenda packed with emotions, FIVB Boys’ U19 World Championship was opened in the Argentinean cities of Resistencia and Corrientes. The host team provided the biggest thrill as they downed France in a full-house, while Italy, Chile, Mexico, Poland, USA, Japan and Brazil also emerged victorious.
Argentina made the tension reach its highest when they climbed back twice to defeat France 3-2 (16-25, 25-23, 25-27, 29-27, 15-12) in a packed Alejo Gronda Hall in Resistencia. Local duo of Jan Martínez and Felipe Benavídez got together with 20 and 17 points respectively for an amazing result, while French captain Joachim Panou scored 26 times for his side.
In the same Pool A, USA worked all the way to defeat a scrappy Turkish side by 3-2 (25-18, 18-25, 26-24, 22-25, 15-13), led by Jordan Ewert. The American spikers topped all the scorers of his side with 21 points, while Michael Wexter followed with 14 and 213cm tower Scott Stadick unveiled 6 kill blocks for his side. USA wrapped up a 13-9 margin on this aspect of the game.
Meanwhile, in Pool B, Italy enjoyed a perfect start with a marvelous blocking performance that allowed a 3-0 (25-17, 25-17, 25-16) win over Cuba in Resistencia. The Azzurri, coming back to this age group category after a four-year absence, relied on middle-blockers Gianluca Galassi and Gabriele Di Martino - a solid pair that nailed 11 out of 18 Italian blocking points.
Afterwards, Mexico cruised past Egypt with 19 points from left-handed captain Ridel Garay Nava, the brightest star in a 3-0 (25-22, 25-20, 25-22) victory over the only African side in the competition. Garay also fired 5 of the 8 aces of the winning team.
In Corrientes, the emotions began flowing from the very first game - a nice five-setter in which Chile came back twice to defeat Chinese Taipei 3-2 (22-25, 25-22, 23-25, 25-19, 16-14). Setter and captain Esteban Villarreal Soltau alongside teammate Fernando Cañas were key players for the result.
European champions Poland defeated Bulgaria in four sets (25-18, 23-25, 25-23, 25-22) with an outstanding performance of the opposite Jakub Ziobrowski, who scored 27 points. European MVP Bartosz Kwolek also did well for the last U19 bronze medalists in Mexico two years ago.
After the noon break, Japan had to sweat a lot to defeat Puerto Rico in an exciting tie breaker by 3-2 (25-16, 23-25, 18-25, 25-18, 15-10). Puerto Rican opposite Gabriel Garcia led the scoring sheet of the game with 22 points, while Japanese Yoshiki Ohmi contributed with 15 tallies for the winning side.
Then, Brazil outscored Germany in the last match of the first day of competition in Corrientes, on five sets (20-25, 25-20, 20-25, 25-20, 15-9). Kaio Ribeiro finished as the best scorer of the night with 20 points, while Moritz Rauber was the most distinguished among the Europeans with 14.
Top Scorer by Day27 - Jakub Ziobrowski of Poland vs Bulgaria on August 14
Top Scoring Performances27 - Jakub Ziobrowski of Poland vs Bulgaria on August 14
26 - Joachim Panou of France v Argentina on August 14
23 - Abdullah Cam of Turkey vs USA on August 14
Top Individual Serving Performances5 - Esteban Villarreal Soltau of Chile v Chinese Taipei on August 14
5 - Ridel Garay Nava of Mexico v Egypt on August 14
Top Team Serving Performances11 - Poland v Bulgaria on August 14
8 - Mexico v Egypt on August 14
Top Individual Blocking Performances7 - Gianluca Galassi of Italy v Cuba on August 14
7 - Barthélémy Chinenyeze of France v Argentina on August 14
6 - Scott Stadick of USA v Turkey on August 14
5 - Kenji Sato of Japan v Puerto Rico on August 14
Top Team Blocking Performances17 - Chile v Chinese Taipei on August 14
15 - Italy v Cuba on August 14
15 - Argentina v France on August 14
15 - France v Argentina on August 14
Highest Scoring Sets29-27 Argentina v France (4th Set) on August 14
27-25 France v Argentina (3rd Set) on August 14
26-24 USA v Turkey (3rd set) on August 14
Highest Scoring Matches224 - Argentina d France 3-2 (16-25, 25-23, 25-27, 29-27, 15-12) on August 14
216 - Chile d Chinese Taipei 3-2 (22-25, 25-22, 23-25, 25-19, 16-14) on August 14
211 - USA d Turkey 3-2 (25-18, 18-25, 26-24, 22-25, 15-13) on August 14