Russia back on top of Europe
Bobruisk, Belarus, September 5, 2010 - Russia is back on top of Europe for the delight of a massive audience in Bobruisk after winning the CEV Junior Championship.
About 5’000 fans witnessed the march of these physically extraordinary athletes as they actually came from behind in a final game where Bulgaria played in great fashion especially for the first two sets, mainly with its main star Nikolay Penchev. Russia’s power was nevertheless too much to handle also for the guys of 1996 Olympian Nikolay Zhelyazkov who did anyway celebrate a successful comeback to the continental elite after about 20 years. With this success Russia also directly qualifies for next year’s World Championships to be played in Brazil. The bronze medal match was not less exciting, with Serbia claiming victory after five sets of continuous turnarounds that left the young “Oranjes” in tears.
A massive audience, certainly the most remarkable in history for a Junior European Championship, poured in this afternoon for the final match starring local favorite Russia and Bulgaria, the real sensation of this Championship that was back in contention for gold after 24 years. After a shaky start (0:3), Russia found the right pace and went ahead for the first time via a Bulgarian attack that finished long (7:6) and then Nikishin forced his opponents to block out for the first technical time-out (8:7). The Russian block started working properly – that was actually one of the main features in all previous games – and every single point of Kovalev & Co. was accompanied by the loud cheering of the Belarusian audience. Russia slightly stretched its lead (12:9) on a poor reception of Dragiev and then again as Penchev hit the antenna while spiking from the right wing (14:10). Both teams were not performing at their best, probably feeling the pressure of this first major title they desperately wanted to seize. Russia was a bit more consistent – even though still a distant “relative” of the stellar team we had admired yesterday in the semifinal with Serbia - but Bulgaria clawed back vigorously to tie the score at 21. Kolesnik spiked out for the 21:22, Ragin scored twice in a row to book two set balls for the guys in green jerseys and the surprising 0:1 came after a Russian net fault.
Russia was this afternoon far away from its best and the opening of the second set was also pretty poor (2:4). Coach Shlyapnikov tried to back up the reception opting for Pluzhnikov and Kindinov but it looked like it was not Russia’s day and Bulgaria kept on scoring with a magnificent Nikolay Penchev for the 6:8 at the first technical break. The Russian towers needed some more time to warm up but could finally tie first at 11 and then at 12. Bulgaria could rely on a great performance of its receivers and was playing with the right self-confidence resulting from a performance that by the mid of the second set did not let see any structural weaknesses. The guys of 1996 Olympian Nikolay Zhelyazkov did not feel the pressure of an audience that was evidently backing Russia; with Filippov and Nikishin far below their usual standards, Pluzhnikov was the main attacking force for “Rossija”. Filippov finally found back his specialty – the block – and Tsentalovich called for the 21:19 and simultaneously also for a Bulgarian time-out. Filippov served two aces in a row for the delight of the public whose exultation boomed as Kovalev blocked Penchev for the 25-20.
It looked like the balance was suddenly turning around into Russia’s favor as Filippov & Co. opened set nr 3 with an imposing 4:0. The Russian attackers were literally bombing the Bulgarian reception (9:3) with a demonstration of power and energy that was absolutely stunning. There was not way to stop this armada (17:6), Bulgaria looked hopeless and even Penchev was in real trouble as his setter was not able to put him in the right condition to attack and score. At 20:9 the Bulgarian star left the court to enjoy some rest and possibly come back in the fourth set with a different scenario. Russia bagged a tremendous 25-15 with Pluzhnikov providing the last point spiking well over the Bulgarian block.
Russia relaxed a little bit in the first rallies of the fourth set but was pretty quickly back on the right track; this time Ivan Nikishin was the leading force and at 10:6 it looked like Russia was rapidly going to re-claim the crown that a previous generation had seized 4 years ago in Kazan. However, there was still a stellar Nikolay Penchev to carry the Bulgarian hopes for a tie-break and his jump serves were the key for a quite unexpected tie at 11. Penchev leveled again at 17 and a poor Russian reception called for the 19:19. Filippov and Nikishin drifted away some scare for the 21:19, but Bulgaria was not yet going to bury the hatchet, especially with Penchev going back to the serving area. Russia controlled the nerves and fully deserved to claim the title in front of 5’000 frenzied fans with Tsentalovich serving as the match winner.
Best Players Awards
MVP: Igor Filippov (RUS)
Best Blocker: Igor Filippov (RUS)
Best Libero: Alexey Kabeshov (RUS)
Best Receiver: Nikolay Penchev (BUL)
Best Scorer: Sjoerd Hoogendoorn (NED)
Best Server: Oleg Tsentalovich (RUS)
Best Setter: Dmitry Kovalev (RUS)
Best Spiker: Aleksandar Atanasijevic (SRB)
Final standings
1. Russia
2. Bulgaria
3. Serbia
4. The Netherlands
5. Spain
6. Germany
7. Italy
8. Belgium
9. Belarus
10. Poland
11. France
12. Turkey