Resistencia and Corrientes, Argentina, August 23, 2015 - In an outstanding finale in Argentina, Poland reached the summit at FIVB Boys’ U19 World Championship for the very first time, after downing host team Argentina in a heart-stopping tie-breaker in front of a full house in Resistencia.
Over than 4’000 spectators witnessed the moving struggle of local favourites Argentina before falling to the might of Poland by a final score of 3-2 (22-25, 25-23, 28-30, 25-18, 15-7), as the Poles got covered in an unprecedented gold for this age-group, following the footsteps of their senior team, that were crowned nearly one year ago.
Poland enjoyed a constellation of stars in the shape of an astonishing team that grabbed the crown unbeaten, and making use of a tie-breaker for the first time at the final. Among those stars, the most brilliant were MVP Bartosz Kwolek, a demolishing serving machine, and fellow outside hitter Tomasz Fornal, a raging spirit that fired out 24 points on the decisive match.
For Argentina it was also an unforgettable run, not only for igniting a true volleyball-fever in home soil - with people queueing all night long to get tickets, but also for achieving a silver medal without comparison, only up to the quest of U21 team in Brazil 2011.
Just before the final, an incredible tournament-high production of 40 points from Iranian star Rasoul Aghchehli ejected the Asians to a remarkable bronze medal as they won over previous champions Russia 3-1 (25-17, 26-28, 25-16, 25-23). Rasoul won a terrific battle of opposites over powerful Russian Dmitry Yakovlev, who led his side with 26 tallies, as Iran improved with the step onto the podium their previous run - a fourth place in Mexico.
On the final chapter of their return to Boys’ U19 category, Italy beat Brazil 3-0 (25-20, 25-22, 25-21) and climbed to the fifth place of the final standing after a two-edition absence. Besides, USA cruised to a 3-0 (25-21, 25-23, 25-15) win over China and secured a positive seventh place, as the team upgraded nine places from Mexico 2013. The Asians, despite having in Yu Yuantai one of the tournament’s best scorers, failed on defending the silver medal harvested two years ago.
Meanwhile, in Corrientes, Turkey was an avalanche over Cuba on the first set, but then they needed to work hard for the 3-0 (25-11, 35-33, 26-24) victory that put them on the 9th final position. Cuba ended up tenth and France are ranked next, as Les Bleus had to use all of their skills to suppress Bulgaria 3-2 (29-27, 23-25, 25-20, 20-25, 15-11) and settle in the 11th place, three positions below their final ranking in 2013 (8th).
Also in Corrientes, Germany kept Mexico under control and celebrated 3-1 (26-28, 25-18, 25-15, 25-20) to grab the 13th place, while the Mexicans repeated the same standing than in 2013 at home soil. The 15th spot belonged to Japan, after a great victory over Chile 3-0 (25-22, 25-23, 25-19). Kenyu Nakamoto and Yuki Suzuki contributed with 14 points apiece, capitalising the great amount of counterattacks that Japan made possible thanks to a tireless defence.
Individual awards
1st Best Outside Hitter - Kaio Ribeiro (Brazil)
2nd Best Outside Hitter - Jan Martínez Franchi (Argentina)
1st Best Middle Blocker - Scott Stadick (USA)
2nd Best Middle Blocker - Aliasghar Mojarad (Iran)
Best Libero - Elias Alexandre Figueiredo (Brazil)
Best Setter - Kamil Droszynski (Poland)
Best Opposite - Dmitry Yakovlev (Russia)
Most Valuable Player - Bartosz Kwolek (Poland)
Top Scorer by Day
27 - Jakub Ziobrowski of Poland vs Bulgaria on August 14
24 - Maximilian Auste of Germany v Japan on August 15
23 - Yen Chen Fu of Chinese Taipei v Bulgaria on August 16
29 - Ridel Garay Nava of Mexico v Cuba on August 17
27 - Yu Yuantai of China v Italy on August 18
27 - Dmitry Yakovlev of Russia v Bulgaria on August 19
25 - Rasoul Aghchehli of Iran v Italy on August 21
35 - Miguel Ángel López of Cuba v Bulgaria on August 22
40 - Rasoul Aghchehli of Iran v Russia on August 23
Top Scoring Performances
40 - Rasoul Aghchehli of Iran v Russia on August 23
35 - Miguel Ángel López of Cuba v Bulgaria on August 22
31 - Dmitry Yakovlev of Russia v Argentina on August 22
29 - Ridel Garay Nava of Mexico v Cuba on August 17
27 - Yu Yuantai of China v Italy on August 18
Top Individual Serving Performances
10 - Bartosz Kwolek of Poland v China on August 21
7 - Miguel Ángel López of Cuba v Bulgaria on August 22
7 - Micah Ma’a of USA v Belgium on August 15
7 - Dmitry Yakovlev of Russia v Germany on August 18
6 - Bartosz Kwolek of Poland v Chile on August 17
Top Team Serving Performances
13 - Poland v Iran on August 15
13 - USA v France on August 17
13 - USA v Mexico on August 19
12 - Russia v Germany on August 18
12 - Poland v China on August 21
Top Individual Blocking Performances
8 - Mathieu Manusauaki of France v Italy on August 19
7 - Gianluca Galassi of Italy v Cuba on August 14
7 - Scott Stadick of USA v Russia on August 21
7 - Abdullah Cam of Turkey v France on August 22
7 - Dawid Woch of Poland v Japan on August 19
Top Team Blocking Performances
21 - Italy v France on August 19
21 - Chinese Taipei v Puerto Rico on August 19
20 - Germany v Japan on August 15
20 - Russia v Bulgaria on August 19
19 - Brazil v USA on August 22
Highest Scoring Sets
35-33 Turkey v Cuba (2nd set) on August 23
34-32 Puerto Rico v Chinese Taipei (2nd set) on August 19
33-31 Russia v Germany (3rd Set) on August 18
30-28 Argentina v Poland (3rd Set) on August 23
29-27 Germany v Puerto Rico (2nd set) on August 16
Highest Scoring Matches
233 - Chinese Taipei d Puerto Rico 3-2 (24-26, 32-34, 25-20, 25-17, 16-14) on August 19
224 - Argentina d France 3-2 (16-25, 25-23, 25-27, 29-27, 15-12) on August 14
220 - France d Bulgaria 3-2 (29-27, 23-25, 25-20, 20-25, 15-11) on August 23
218 - Poland d Argentina 3-2 (22-25, 25-23, 28-30, 25-18, 15-7) on August 23
216 - Chile d Chinese Taipei 3-2 (22-25, 25-22, 23-25, 25-19, 16-14) on August 14