This promised to be an extremely long day at the office. Pool play began today on both the men's and women's sides, with everyone playing twice. That's a good twelve hours-plus of volleyball.
The FIVB have, in a return to an old practice, resumed giving the #1 seed in each tourney to the host country, regardless of whether they truly deserve it. This strikes me as pretty foolish, because it creates inequities further down the chain. The seedlines are supposed to be based on total points, but it's definitely way better to be, say, #16 or #17 than it is to be #15. The 16 and 17 seeds get a pool with a relatively unknown Argentinian team. The 15 seeds get Alison and Emanuel. Doesn't really seem fair, but such is the rule.
Alison/Emanuel vs. Zorilla/Del Coto
Just like yesterday, I didn't quite join things early enough to see the first slate of matches, so the first report is from the second slate. It was the second-straight centre court match for a 'home' team, much to the delight of the assembled crowd (including one jackass with an air horn). These #31 seeds gave the world's best team all they could handle early, with Alison and Emanuel's one-point lead at the halfway point their first lead of the match. They added the first two points after the timeout, and extended their advantage to four at 15-11 on a perfect middle block by Alison. They made it five on the next rally when a ball handling call went against the Argentinians, who called timeout. The first serve after the timeout went, as such serves so often do, straight into the net, but the damage was done. The Argentinians only got as close again as three, falling in the first by a 21-15 count.
Alison and Emanuel pressed their advantage much earlier in set 2, prompting the Argentina team to call timeout after just three points at 3-0. A middle block, one of timing rather than domination, got them their first point after the timeout, but it was still 5-2 Brazil at the side change, and it went on like that. A service ace for Emanuel extended it to 10-4 at the second side change before the Argentinians rebounded a bit to close to within 12-9 at the halfway point. The first point after the timeout was kind of an interesting one, as Zorilla and Del Coto had to return a free ball towards the end of it. I found it interesting that even with the free choice of which of them to take the hitting opportunity, it was still Alison setting Emanuel. The wily veteran got that kill and then added two more to extend the Brazil side back to a 6-point advantage at 15-9. From there, the Argentinians rattled off three straight to prompt Alison and Emanuel to call time, but 15-12 was as close again as the home team got. The Brazilians took five of the next six to reach match point at 20-13. Zorilla and Del Coto staved off the first one on reception — barely — and then got a couple on service, but they ran out of road, falling 21-16 in set 2.
Kessy/Ross vs. Graiño/Di Cesare
What immediately followed that first match was a string of encounters where I really wasn't familiar with either team, so bearing in mind that this is an exceptionally long day, I simply passed on writing them up altogether. It was evidently a chilly morning in Corrientes, as lots of teams wore cold gear. Jen and April were among them, and I thought it interesting that they wore their bikini tops on the outside like most teams do in this situation, even though if you'll recall at the London Olympics they had shirts made up to avoid having to do this. Guess they weren't on hand. But in any case, they looked very strong in this match, seizing control early in the first st en route to a massive 21-11 win.
The local girls, also wearing sleeved tops, put up more of a fight in set 2, keeping it sideout after sideout for a a while as the vaunted Americans led only 12-9 at the halfway mark. Serving pressure from April Ross widened the gap, as an ace in the midst of some other out of system rallies for the Argentinians put the Americans up six at 15-9. That prompted a timeout from the Argentinian side, but they made no inroads into the advantage. The American lead got as large as 8, first at 19-11. They reached match point at 20-13 and April's strong serve got it done on the first try.
Bawden/Clancy vs. Mashkova/Tsimbalova
I joined this match in set 2, after the Australians had won the first set. The Kazakhs took a whitewash of the first 'pod' of 7 points, and quickly stormed to a 14-4 lead. I somewhat tuned out at that point, quite confident the match would go to a decider.
The Australians had other ideas.
From that 10-point deficit, they rattled off a 13-3 run to draw even again. It's the kind of run you don't often see in beach volleyball, except when there's a stark gulf of talent between the two teams that obviously wasn't the case here (considering the Kazakhs had had a similar run themselves). By the skin of their teeth (which is a very strange phrase, come to think of it), the Kazakhs survived to indeed force a 3rd, but the margin was only 21-19.
And then it all kind of happened again. The Kazakhs scored the first 6 points of the decider, only to have the Australians close to within 3 at 7-4. From there, though, the Kazakhs re-asserted control much sooner, a pair of aces taking them to the third side change back up seven at 11-4. Tsimbalova and Mashkova finished off the 3rd at 15-7.
Liliana/Baquerizo vs. Gioria/Giomboini
The two teams traded points (not quite sideout after sideout, but close) for a long stretch to start off the match. A kill for Liliana made 11-9, to give the Spanish team the first 2-point lead, and then a hitting error on the Italian side put them ahead 3 at the halfway mar. The Spaniards added two more from 13-11, after a few further sideouts, to go ahead by four and prompt the Italians to call time. The run continued after the timeout, reaching 16-11 before the Italians finally got another kill in advance of the fourth side change. The Spanish tandem reached set point at 20-17 and got it when a net fault was called on the Italians.
Gioria and Giombini started off much better in set 2, claiming five of the first seven to lead at the side switch. It was not to last, though. The Spanish side chipped away, making it back to even at 10-all when it appeared they may have gotten away with touching a ball on the net before it flew long. The Italians protested for a moment, but only a moment. Liliana and Baquerizo took the next rally as well to go up a point, on serve, at the halfway timeout. Then the teams traded points again for a long stretch, until the Spanish got one on serve again to go up 18-16. The Italians responded to that by taking four straight, showing themselves to be the match of the Fuzhou Open silver medallists. They reached set point at 20-18, and put it away on reception at 21-19.
It was tight in the decider through the first two side changes, but between the second and third the Spanish team turned a 1 or 2-point lead into a 5-point lead, going ahead 10-5 at the third side change. The always-demonstrative Spaniards stayed so, as they reached match point at 14-8. They converted on reception a rally later, and they did not have to work for it — the serve flew well long.
Doppler/Horst vs. Kufa/Hadrava
I had my choice of two pretty pronounced mismatches at this hour. I'd ordinarily be of the mind to just skip them, but I'd done too much of that today already.
And, sure enough, Doppler and Horst scored five of the first seven to take control pretty quickly. Only their failures to get serves over the net and in bounds were able to put the Czech team on the board. The Czechs also repaid the generosity a few times, as the errors piled up in the early going. One from Doppler on reception got the Czech side back within two at 9-7, but the Austrians extended back to 12-9 at the halfway timeout. Kufa and Hadrava had some fight in them yet, as they chipped away some more to draw even at 14's, and then a hitting error from Horst gave them the lead at 16-15. Doppler had words with the up official about something. Didn't appear to me that there was any real contentious call or no-call. The Czechs got their advantage up to two points at 18-16, at which point the Austrians called time. When they subsequently brought it back even at 18's, Clemens Doppler roared like he had just won the whole tournament. But Hadrava responded, serving the Czech side to set point at 20-18. They had a shot to take it on reception at 20-19, but Kufa's hit went just long. Neither Austrian was anywhere near the ball.
And the deuce game was a pretty long one. Both sides got their chances at set point, meaning they could score on serve, but only to give themselves set point, not to convert it. Finally, on about their ninth try at set point, the Czechs were able to dig Horst's hit and set their own offence, converting at 30-28 to take set 1. Not at all the result I was expecting.
It was sideout after sideout to begin set 2 just as it had been late in set 1. Finally, a block from the Czech side, on their serve, made it 8-6 at the second side change. Hadrava adding a kill made it 9-6, to prompt Doppler and Horst to call time. They sided out and then got two service aces from Horst to draw even again. There was very nearly a third straight ace, but the Austrian run continued even so, as the Czechs were called for a touch on a long hit. It was 11-10 Austria at the midway point, but then the Czechs had another spurt, taking five points of six to go ahead 15-12. That margin held to the finish at 21-18. It was kind of sloppy play on both sides of the net, but more so the Austrians (clearly), as they just had nothing even resembling defence.
Oh, and that other match I thought was a rank mismatch? Brink/Fuchs against a local team. Aaaaand the local team won. I never claimed to know what I was talking about 😉
Alison/Emanuel vs. Koreng/Walkenhorst
This was for control of Pool B heading into tomorrow, as both of these teams won earlier in the day. The Brazil side started with a very good run off Emanuel's serve to go up 4-0 before the Germans could side out. Just as quickly, the Germans had the equaliser to knot the set at 4-all. And so it continued, with ties at each numerical score through 12, until Alison and Emanuel at last achieved a modest measure of separation. But it was not to last, as on 16-15 a long rally ended with Emanuel's attempt at a pokie finding only the net. On the next rally, the Germans ran into each other as they tried to track down the ball. From across the net, Alison extended his arms to his sides in a "Come on!" gesture, and the officials saw what he did, whistling the Germans I believe for 4 hits (you couldn't really see the officials' hand signals). After the collision, Koreng was pretty slow getting up off the sand, but get up he did, and play continued. At 19-18, Alison appeared to play a serve that was headed out, but he got the kill anyway to give his side set point.
The Brazilians again started strong in set 2, taking five of the first seven and prompting the Germans to call time when down 6-2. There was no semblance of fight in the Germans in this set, as Alison and Emanuel continually added to their advantage. Nothing spectacular, but little two and three point runs are all you really need. They led 15-6 at the halfway timeout, and extended their lead to ten at 18-8. Alison and Emanuel reached match point at 20-10, and converted on reception.
Maria/Agatha vs. Day/Ross
Back to women's action, and another case of two teams meeting after having both won earlier in the day. Both of these teams, as did most teams on the day, wore cold weather under-tights, despite the fact that the day seemed perfectly clear. Guess you can't tell just by looking sometimes. There was that one hideously long day back in Shanghai where it was obvious the weather was just as miserable as you could imagine, but here today, it looked like a nice day at the beach. I happened to catch Zara Dampney on twitter, who informed me that I was stupid (not her words, mine) as I had forgotten that it's winter (late fall, whatever) in Argentina — southern hemisphere. Corrientes is in the north of Argentina, but it's still well below the equator. It'll be different for the São Paulo grand slam at the end of the season. On the topic of the weather, Summer Ross also had this to say:
It's freezing here!I brought lots of shorts and 1 pair of game tights. #noob — Summer Ross (@summernoelross) May 23, 2013
Now, as to the match. The Americans, who I think I can say without controversy were the underdogs in this match, kept it very close to begin with. They traded points with the Brazilians to the tune of ties at the first 8 numerical scores. At that point, though, the elastic snapped, as Maria rattled off eight straight on serve in advance of the Americans' timeout. Only a service error got the Americans their sideout, but the Brazilians kept up the pressure, extending to a 10-point lead and eventually winning the set by that margin.
Set 2 was a much better showing from the Americans. It started off with the Brazilians holding a tenuous 1 or 2 point lead through a string of sideouts. In contrast to the opening set, it was the Americans who went on the mid-set run, prompting the Brazilians' timeout with them trailing 13-10. Maria and Agatha chipped back into the deficit and got the equaliser at 17-all. It remained tied through to 19-all, when the Brazilians won a great long rally on serve to reach match point. The next rally was pretty similar — a long rally ending with the Brazilians celebrating what ended up being a hard-fought match.
And to my modest surprise, there were exuberant cheers for the Brazilian team. I suppose it's possible some Brazilian fans travelled from the homeland, but I'd been a bit curious if there was any such dynamic to the Brazil/Argentina relationship at all like USA and Canada. One crowd's reactions weren't gonna tell that one way or the other, not conclusively, but it was still interesting to hear.
Liliana/Baquerizo vs. Bieneck/ Großner
Oddly, I wasn't taking notes here on this match as it went on, but I did livetweet it. So I'll reconstruct a little from that. The first set was very, very close and even, with ties at almost every numerical score through 16. The Germans went ahead two at 18-16 and reached set point on 20-17 on a rare reception error by the Spanish side. They finished it off on reception, to take the set 21-18. It was just about all Spain in set 2, as they used a 6-0 run midway through to soak up the German team's timeout and lead to the 21-13 final. The 3rd started off pretty close and then got less so. From 6-4, the German team exploded to take a maximum advantage of 7, reaching match point at 14-8. The Spaniards put up a good fight and staved off four match points, but they eventually fell with a 15-12 final.
Gallay/Zonta vs. Schwaiger/Schwaiger
A nice crowd braved the cold (by this time, it was also getting pretty late in the day) to cheer on their home team against the Shanghai silver medallists. It was the Schwaigers pressing an early, and modest, advantag, leading 8-6 after two side changes. They took the first two after the second change to prompt the local girls (loosely speaking….Argentina is a large country, I don't really know how 'local' they are to Corrientes) to call time down four. The run continued, not stopping until Gallay and Zonta finally sided out ahead of the technical timeout, coming at 14-7. After a few sideouts, the Austrian roll continued, attaining at ten-point lead at 19-9 in advance of the 21-11 final.
The second set started out similarly, with the Schwaigers nursing a modest lead for a while. Curiously, the Argentinian team called timeout after just four rallies, trailing 3-1. Not sure what the point of that was, and it may well show a little inexperience. Ana Gallay is 29 and Maria Zonta is 23, and to my surprise they're actually London Olympic alumnae, but they don't have a very long history together (or apart, for that matter). They kept the set a lot more competitive than the first, coming even at 13-all when Stefanie Schwaiger (the tallest player on the court by far) somehow managed to drill the top of the net with a hitting attempt. That prompted a timeout from the sister team. The Argentinians took their first true lead of the match at 15-13, to the delight of the surely-frozen crowd. The Schwaigers equalised, but just as quickly, the Argentinian girls went out ahead by two once more. The sisters ran out of time to bring 'em back again, and 21-19 was the second set final.
Gallay and Zonta looked to really feed off the crowd at the beginning of the decider set, prompting the Schwaigers to call time while down 5-3. They got the sideout coming out of the timeout and then caught the Argentinians in some pretty awful service reception formation (namely, that they ran away from the serve which landed well in bounds). Argentina in turn took their timeout down 6-5. They got the two-point lead at 8-6 and had a shot to go up 3 at the third side change, as Stefanie Schwaiger made use of her 6-foot frame to extend fully and keep a ball alive. Doris came up with a good, high set, and Stefanie's hit simply sailed wide. They took the next two after the change to lead by three at 10-7, but the crowd kept the home team in the match.
I feel like I may be giving them a stupidly large amount of credit — it's the athletes on the court who play the match after all — but I don't doubt at all that their presence had at least some tangible effect. The Argentinians drew even at 12 with a service ace that Doris Schwaiger made the mistake of simply not playing, and then took a 13-12 lead with another ace. They reached match point at 14-13, and flew to new heights both literally and metaphorically with a big stuff block to end it.
They don't win this match if it's not played in Argentina, I'm quite sure of that.
This wasn't the last match of the day — there were still three more — but at this point I finally listened to my body (it had been telling me no for some time) and caught up on the sleep I was indebted. That's why this post is so late going up. But given that it's still north of 3000 words, I think it's still probably decent coverage overall. And for day two, it should be even more robust.
Full Day One results
Ultimately, today was a day of pretty widespread upsets, both major and minor.
Men's Pool Play
Pool A
#32 Kufa/Hadrava (CZE) d. #1 Mehamed/Azaad (ARG) (17-21, 21-19, 15-13)
#16 Doppler/Horst (AUT) d. #17 Brink/Fuchs (GER) (19-21, 23-21, 15-12)
Mehamed/Azaad d. Brink/Fuchs (21-9, 11-21, 15-8)
Kufa/Hadrava d. Doppler/Horst (30-28, 21-18)
Pool B
#2 Alison/Emanuel (BRA) d. #31 Zorilla/Del Coto (ARG) (21-15, 21-16)
#18 Koreng/Walkenhorst (GER) d. #15 Lucena/Keenan (USA) (21-12, 16-21, 15-7)
Alison/Emanuel d. Koreng/Walkenhorst (21-19, 21-11)
Lucena/Keenan d. Zorilla/Del Coto (21-19, 21-13)
Pool C
#30 Kantor/Losiak (POL) d. #3 Nicolai/Lupo (ITA) (21-19, 15-21, 15-11)
#14 Brouwer/Meeuwsen (NED) d. #19 Semenov/Koshkarev (RUS) (21-19, 21-14)
Nicolai/Lupo d. Semenov/Koshkarev (21-16, 18-21, 15-10)
Brouwer/Meeuwsen d. Kantor/Losiak (21-14, 21-14)
Pool D
#29 Gunnarsson/Brinkborg (SWE) d. #4 Pedro/Bruno (BRA) (23-21, 21-18)
#13 Dollinger/Windscheif (GER) d. #20 Huber/Seidl (AUT) (19-21, 21-16, 15-12)
Pedro/Bruno d. Huber/Seidl (21-18, 21-12)
Dollinger/Windscheif d. Gunnarsson/Brinkborg (21-16, 21-13)
Pool E
#28 Vitor Felipe/Evandro (BRA) d. #5 Erdmann/Matysik (GER) (21-18, 21-17)
#12 Ricardo/Álvaro Filho (BRA) d. #21 Plavins/Peda (LAT) (21-17, 18-21, 15-13)
Erdmann/Matysik d. Plavins/Peda (21-16, 21-18)
Vitor Felipe/Evandro d. Ricardo/Álvaro Filho (15-21, 21-19, 15-12)
This creates a slightly unusual situation — Plavins and Peda are already guaranteed to finish last and be eliminated before the knockout round. There's no way for them to finish any higher.
Pool F
#6 Fijalek/Prudel (POL) d. #27 Kuleshov/Yakovlev (KAZ) (21-15, 21-11)
#11 Spijkers/Varenhorst (NED) d. #22 Sorokins/T Smedins (LAT) (23-21, 21-18)
Fijalek/Prudel d. Sorokins/T Smedins (21-11, 21-13)
Spijkers/Varenhorst d. Kuleshov/Yakovlev (21-15, 21-17)
Pool G
#26 Ingrosso/Ingrosso (ITA) d. #7 Gibb/Patterson (USA) (22-20, 21-17)
#10 Rogers/Doherty (USA) d. #23 Chevallier/Prawdzic (SUI) (21-17, 21-10)
Gibb/Patterson d. Rogers/Doherty (21-18, 22-20)
Chevallier/Prawdzic d. Ingrosso/Ingrosso (21-16, 21-19)
And this is one of those fun ones where everybody's 1-1 going into day two. Still anybody's rodeo.
Pool H
#25 Gabathuler/Weingart (SUI) d. #8 Bianchi/Suarez (ARG) (19-21, 21-18, 15-6)
#9 J Smedins/Samoilovs (LAT) d. #24 Horrem/Eithun (NOR) (21-15, 21-15)
Bianchi/Suarez d. Horrem/Eithun (21-18, 14-21, 15-12) They held this match last on the day, alone on the docket by design — hope the organisers let these boys sleep in a little!
J Smedins/Samoilovs d. Gabathuler/Weingart (21-16, 21-17)
Women's Pool Play
Pool A
#32 Prokopeva/Chaika (RUS) d. #1 Gallay/Zonta (ARG) (21-19, 21-18)
#17 Schwaiger/Schwaiger (AUT) d. #16 Maria Clara/Carolina (BRA) (21-15, 21-14)
Gallay/Zonta d. Schwaiger/Schwaiger (11-21, 21-19, 15-13)
Maria Clara/Carolina d. Prokopeva/Chaika (21-16, 21-13) Anyone's ballgame here, too.
Pool B
#2 Kessy/Ross (USA) d. #31 Graiño/Di Cesare (ARG) (21-11, 21-13)
#18 Mashkova/Tsimbalova (KAZ) d. #15 Bawden/Clancy (18-21, 21-19, 15-7)
Kessy/Ross d. Mashkova/Tsimbalova (21-16, 21-15)
Bawden/Clancy d. Graiño/Di Cesare (21-16, 21-10)
Pool C
#3 Holtwick/Semmler (GER) d. #30 Pavan/Bansley (CAN) (21-13, 20-22, 15-10)
#19 Dubovcova/Nestarcova (CZE) d. #14 Cicolari/Orsi Toth (ITA) (21-15, 21-15)
Holtwick/Semmler d. Dubovcova/Nestarcova (21-16, 21-12)
Pavan/Bansley d. Cicolari/Orsi Toth (21-16, 21-12)
Pool D
#29 Dampney/Boulton (GBR) d. #4 Ukolova/Khomyakova (RUS) (11-21, 24-22, 15-9)
#13 Borger/Büthe (GER) d. #20 Fendrick/Hochevar (USA) (18-21, 21-16, 15-10)
Fendrick/Hochevar d. Ukolova/Khomyakova (24-22, 19-21, 17-15) Not such a hot start for the reunited Russians
Borger/Büthe d. Dampney/Boulton (21-13, 18-21, 15-8)
Pool E
#5 Meppelink/Van Gestel (NED) d. #28 Hansel/Schützenhöfer (AUT) (21-23, 21-14, 15-10)
#12 Zumkehr/Heidrich (SUI) d. #21 Bonnerova/Hermannova (CZE) (18-21, 21-11, 15-13)
Meppelink/Van Gestel d. Bonnerova/Hermannova (21-13, 21-9)
Zumkehr/Heidrich d. Hansel/Schützenhöfer (21-13, 17-21, 15-13) Caught a little of this match. I like this Swiss team a whole lot, and the Austrians kept pace most of the way. I'd expect them to handle the Czechs tomorrow and make the knockout round
Pool F
#6 Maria/Agatha (BRA) d. #27 Day/Ross (USA) (21-11, 21-19)
#11 Lili/Seixas (BRA) d. #22 Aratcho/Ngaumo (AUS) (21-9, 21-13)
Maria/Agatha d. Lili/Seixas (22-24, 21-17, 16-14)
Day/Ross d. Aratcho/Ngaumo (21-13, 22-20)
Pool G
#7 Kolocova/Slukova (CZE) d. #26 Van der Vlist/Wesselink (NED) (18-21, 21-14, 15-8)
#10 Talita/Taiana (BRA) d. #23 Köhler/Schumacher (GER) (19-21, 21-16, 15-10)
Kolocova/Slukova d. Köhler/Schumacher (21-18, 19-21, 15-12)
Talita/Taiana d. Van der Vlist/Wesselink (21-19, 21-17)
Pool H
#25 Bieneck/Großner (GER) d. #8 Flaviani/Klug (ARG) (21-13, 21-16)
#9 Liliana/Baquerizo (ESP) d. #24 Gioria/Giombini (ITA) (21-17, 19-21, 15-9)
Gioria/Giombini d. Flaviani/Klug (21-18, 21-17)
Bieneck/Großner d. Liliana/Baquerizo (21-18, 13-21, 15-12)
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