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Olympic Volleyball Recaps: 27 July (Day 8)

Men's Volleyball Preliminaries/Pool A

BRA vs. USA

Brazil Continues Comeback With Victory

Brazil continued its amazing comeback with a 15-11, 15-11, 15-7 victory over the United States on Saturday in the Omni Coliseum. The victory marks the second straight for the Brazilians and improves their record to 2-2. The United States lost for the second straight time and dropped to 2-2 overall as well in what has become a log jam for the top four spots in pool A. Brazil, the United States, Bulgaria and Argentina are all tied with 2-2 records. Cuba is the top team in pool A with a perfect 4-0 record. Bulgaria and the United States will meet in their final matches in pool play with the winner earning a berth in the quarterfinals. Alexandra SAMUEL led Brazil with 25 kills, while Marcelo NEGRAO had 21 kills. The United States was led by Bryan IVIE with 16 kills.

Final Score: BRA def. USA 15-11, 15-11, 15-7.

"Everyone knows that playing the United States is difficult because of their style of play," said Brazilian head coach Jose GUIMARAES. "Brazil should be complimented because of the way we played. Today was the true Brazilian style of play. This is the standard we aspire to."


Men's Volleyball Preliminaries/Pool B

TUN vs. KOR

Korea Notches First Win of Competition

Korea recorded its first victory of the competition with a 15-4, 15-6, 15-6 victory over Tunisia on Saturday at the Omni Coliseum. The win raises the Korean record to 1-3 in pool B play, while Tunisia dropped to 0-4 overall. Tunisia could not come up with an answer to the much quicker Korean style of play. Korea is still mathematically alive for a berth in the quarterfinals, but it would take a Korean victory over the Netherlands and a Tunisia victory over the Russian Federation. KIM Se-Jin paced Korea with 16 kills and 3 blocks, while KIM Sang-Woo added 13 kills, 3 blocks and 2 service aces. Mohamed BAGHDADI led Tunisia with 16 kills.

Final Score: KOR def. TUN 15-4, 15-6, 15-6.


Men's Volleyball Preliminaries/Pool A

ARG vs. CUB

Cuba Secures Berth in Quarterfinals

Cuba assured itself of a berth in the quarterfinals with a 15-10, 15-12, 15-9 victory over Argentina on Saturday at the University of Georgia in Athens. The win raises Cuba's record to a perfect 4-0, while the loss drops Argentina to 2-2 in pool A play. Cuba joins Italy, who is competing in pool B, as the only unbeaten teams in the competition. Although each of the sets were tightly contested, Cuba used its experience and powerful offensive attack to pull away. Freddy BROOKS led Cuba with 18 kills, while Joel DESPAIGNE recorded 17 kills and 1 service ace. Alejandro ROMANO supplied the offensive spark for Argentina with 19 kills and Marcos MILINKOVIC added 18 kills and 1 service ace.

Final Score: CUB def. ARG 15-10, 15-12, 15-9.

"At the very beginning this was a difficult match for us," said Cuban captain Ihosvany HERNANDEZ. "We prepared both physically and emotionally for this game because they beat us last year. We were equals at the beginning of this match."


BUL vs. POL

Bulgaria Keeps Hopes Alive

Bulgaria kept its hopes alive by advancing to the quarterfinals with a 15-4, 15-10, 15-7 victory over Poland on Saturday at the University of Georgia in Athens. In what has become a mad scramble for the top four spots in pool A, Bulgaria joins the United States, Brazil and Argentina with identical 2-2 records. Bulgaria will meet the United States in their final pool play match with the winner advancing to the quarterfinals. Poland, which dropped to 0-4, was eliminated from any chance to advance. Bulgaria was led by Martin STOEV who had 27 kills and 1 service ace, while Nayden NAYDENOV added 16 kills and 5 blocks. Poland was paced by Krzysztof JANCZAK who had 15 kills and 1 block.

Final Score: BUL def. POL 15-4, 15-10, 15-7.

"I have not noticed any improvement in our play over the course of the games," said Poland head coach Marcin NOWAK. "If anything, we played worse. Nobody on our team played to even half of his potential.We can be very good or very bad; we've been playing very bad."


Men's Preliminaries/Group B

ITA vs. RUS

Italy Retains Top Seed:

Italy moved to within a match of capturing the top seed in Group B with a dominating 15-11, 15-6, 15-12 victory over the Russian Federation on Saturday in the Omni Coliseum. The victory improved the Italians record to 4-0 and put the team in position to capture the top seed with a victory over the Netherlands on Monday. Russia dropped to 1-3 with the loss, but can still reach the quarterfinals with a victory against Tunisia. Italy overwhelmed the Russians, and were not seriously challenged until the third set. Andrea GIANI turned in an fine performance for the Italians. He recorded 36 kills, 3 blocks and 3 service aces. All was not well for the Italians as starting attacker Vigor BOVOLENTA suffered a broken nose and his status for Monday's match is yet to be determined. Stanislav DINEIKIN posted 19 kills, 3 blocks and 1 service ace for Russia. Final Score: ITA def. RUS 15-11, 15-6, 15-12.


Men's Preliminaries/Group B

NED vs. YUG

The Netherlands Moves into Second Place:

The Netherlands moved into a second place tie in Group B with a 15-7, 15-6, 15-9 victory over Yugoslovia on Saturday in the Omni Coliseum. Both the Netherlands and Yugoslovia are now 3-1 in pool play. Yugoslovia was attempting to set up a first-place showdown with undefeated Italy, but the loss ended that hope. Instead, Yugoslovia could slip to as low as third place in the standings. With the victory the Netherlands kept its slim hopes alive to finish as the number one seed in group B. Olof VAN DER MEULEN led the Netherlands with 27 kills, while Guido GORTZEN added 17 kills. Yugoslovia was paced by Vladimir GRBIC with 16 kills, 2 blocks and 1 service ace. Final Score: NED def. YUG 15-7, 15-6, 15-9. This is an official publication of the Atlanta Committee for the Olympic Games Sports Publications Department.


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The volunteer staff of the 1996 Olympic Games totaled 50,152. They worked an estimated 850,000 shifts.