Tine Urnaut with 19 points allowed Slovenia to stay at top of pool A ranking

Mandela Forum, Florence, September 14th, 5.00 PM.

This match is Japan last resort to go ahead, while Slovenia have to win to confirm his leadership and hope to win the pool, even though it will be hard for everyone to compete with Italy we have seen yesterday night.

The 30 y.o. Slovenia captain Tine Urnaut confirmed the family tradition and played an excellent game, even without spectalurar plays. 19 points, he attacked the 35% of the total of Slovenia hits (all from 1st line), with an efficiency of 60%. He was supported by a great team blocking with 13 points, above all Kozamernik (4 blocks, 12 total points) gave a big help.

Japan showed good defenses as well and Ishikawa with 15 points was the last one to give up.

Japan started the afternoon game with the right gear and after a couple of spectacular defenses of the libero Ide unexpectedly leaded 3-0; Slovenia started slowly, however this time they didn’t need a whole set like versus Dominican Republic to sharpen up, the comeback is fast, the Blue&Whites went ahead at 6-4 and then 8-6 at first TTO. Slovenia showed a well compacted block, they didn’t scored so many direct points however they oblige the japanese spikers not to hit hard, or to run the risk to find unusual path. During this period there were several mistakes for the rising sun country players at serve. Coach Nakagaichi tried to stop Slovenia with a double change, but it was not enough and Italy's northeastern neighbours won first period 25-20. The big difference was in blocking, 6 points for Slovenia (3 midblocker Kozamernik), 0 for Japan.

In the second set Nishida is in the starting six substituting Yanagida. The 8-7 point of Japan was spectacular, they scored only after four strong spikes (slovenian “piece du resistance”) while the Slovenian played a couple of defenses (japanese “house speciality”). Japan played some amazing up & down combinations with wind spikers and midblockers and went ahead 16-12 at the second TTO. Japan attacks were directed toward opponents zone 1 and 4 taking big risks anyhow they were definitely succesful and the last point was a hit by left handed Nishida from zone 2 25-22. In this second set Slovenia scored just one block and Japan scored 10 points thanks to opponents errors. They improved attack from 48 to 68 % and perfect receptions from 25 to 50 %

On the third period Nishida was confirmed on the court, above all because of his defense ability; anyway, as the period before, were the spikers Fukuzawa and Ishikawa who scored more points and very good in reception, too. Slovenia leaded 16-14 at the second TTO, and coach Nakagaichi called timeout on 14-18 after two long and spectacular action of gaming; nevertheless Slovenia gradually got some points with Gasperini and Urnaut attacks and was very regular on side out phase and with a block by setter Vincic won 25-20. Different from the other periods Japan committed 10 direct mistakes (5 attacks 5 services).

In the fourth set Slovenia little by little went ahead to 8-4 the first TTO; then three serving mistakes in a row followed by three impeccable side outs maintened the same distance between the teams and afterword two jump serve by Cebulj brought the Whites to 16-9 at teh second TTO. Beginning of the match to date Slovenia did 17 mistakes in serving howeverthey scored 6 points, three of them in this period. Sket entered for Cebulj and he showed his talent with one block, one attack on the ground and one blockout. The game went to an end thanks to a serve of Pajenk that mockingly touched the net and fall. Game, set and match for Slovenia 25-13

Source: fivb.org