China win all-Asian clash despite Miyaura’s prolific scoring

Brno / Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic, June 23, 2017 – Kento Miyaura was the best scorer on the first competition day at the FIVB Volleyball Men’s U21 World Championship, which got underway in the Czech Republic on Friday. He tallied 23 points for Japan, but this was not enough for his team to win the all-Asian clash with China.

The most interesting game of the day was the five-set rollercoaster in Brno, which brought Canada a 3-2 victory over the home team of the Czech Republic.

On the first competition day Pool A offered two completely different matches – one speedy three-setter and one hard-fought battle resolved in the tie-breaker.

Led by Fynnian Lionel Mccarthy with six of the team’s 14 kill blocks, Canada persevered through a five-set drama to win against the Czech Republic. In front of a noisy full-hearted crowd on the stands at the DRFG Arena in Brno, the North Americans snatched a 3-2 (25-22, 13-25, 23-25, 25-18, 15-12) victory to spoil the home party.

Before that, with Bartosz Kwolek spearheading the team’s offensive line, Poland made a flying start handing Morocco a 3-0 (25-9, 25-15, 25-15) shutout.

 

Russia and Turkey scored impressive straight-set victories on the first competition day in Pool B. Each of them dominated on the court in two of the sets, but while Russia struggled to close the first set against Cuba, the Turks had to survive a third-set scare against USA.

Anton Semyshev made a strong performance in Russia’s 3-0 (32-30, 25-17, 25-14) victory over Cuba. He was the best scorer of the match with 19 points, including three aces.

Ogulcan Yatgin showcased his setting skills and nicely spread out his team’s offensive efforts in Turkey’s first match at the U21 World Championship on the way to a 3-0 (25-19, 25-14, 30-28) victory over USA.

 

Argentina and Iran disappointed their European opponents on Friday with powerful straight-set wins.

Jan Franchi Martinez scored 14 points to set the Argentinean team off to a flying start in Ceske Budejovice with a 3-0 (25-21, 25-16, 25-20) shutout of Ukraine in the first Pool C match.

Aliasghar Mojarad scored four of Iran’s 11 kill blocks in the 3-0 (25-22, 25-19, 25-21) victory over Italy.

 

2015 bronze medallists China started the 2017 edition of the U21 World Championship with a three-point victory. Brazil followed suit with a straight-setter to take the top spot in the standings after the first competition day.

Despite an impressive 23 points by Kento Miyaura, Japan managed to win only one set in the all-Asian clash with China. Yuantai Yu contributed 20 points to his team’s 3-1 (25-21, 25-23, 22-25, 25-16) victory.

Brazil did not waste much time to register their first victory in Ceske Budejovice. With a 15-point contribution from Felipe Moreira Roque, the South Americans mastered a 3-0 (25-20, 25-18, 25-18) win against Egypt.

 

23 - Kento Miyaura of Japan v China on June 23

23 - Kento Miyaura of Japan v China on June 23

21 - Donovan Dzavoronok of Czech Republic v Canada on June 23

20 - Yuantai Yu of China v Japan on June 23

4 - Kristian Cervinka of Czech Republic v Canada on June 23

4 - Miguel Angel Lopez Castro of Cuba v Russia on June 23

3 - Bartosz Kwolek of Poland v Morocco on June 23

10 - Czech Republic v Canada on June 23

7 - Canada v Czech Republic on June 23

7 - Japan v China on June 23

7 - Russia v Cuba on June 23

7 - Cuba v Russia on June 23

7 - Argentina v Ukraine on June 23

6 - Fynnian Lionel Mccarthy of Canada v Czech Republic on June 23

5 - Aleksei Kononov of Russia v Cuba on June 23

4 - Aliasghar Mojarad of Iran v Italy on June 23

4 - Yuantai Yu of China v Japan on June 23

4 - Norbert Huber of Poland v Morocco on June 23

14 - Canada v Czech Republic on June 23

12 - China v Japan on June 23

11 - Iran v Italy on June 23

10 - Poland v Morocco on June 23

32-30 - Russia v Cuba on June 23

30-28 - Turkey v USA on June 23

203 - Czech Republic v Canada 2-3 (22-25, 25-13, 25-23, 18-25, 12-15) on June 23

182 - China v Japan 3-1 (25-21, 25-23, 22-25, 25-16) on June 23