Montreux, Switzerland, May 30, 2024 - World champions Russia obtained the 3-0 (25-19, 25-13, 25-25) victory against hosts Switzerland they needed to advance to the semifinals and in the process knock title holders Brazil out of the tournament. Yana Shscherban contributed with 16 points the needed kills against Mandy Wigger (13 points) and
Switzerland.
The question in
the first game of the last day of pool play wasn’t if Switzerland or Russia would pass to the
semifinals, but Brazil or Russia. After the big game between the two big
rivals, the world champions had the opportunity to finish second or first in Pool B and kick the title holder out of the tournament.
Hosts Switzerland, on the other hand, had no chance to qualify for the
semifinals, but could cook the Russians’ goose if they would win at least one
set or only lose by differential of 23 points. All Brazilian hopes relied on
Timo Lippuner’s team.
The Swiss side made an effort and kept the game tight in the beginning of the set, the number
of unforced errors were kept low. However, at 17-17 the Swiss started to become
nervous and committed unforced errors. Coach Lippuner tried to calm his
players down, but the Russian took advantage of this down and won the first set
by 25-19; an important first win for Yuri Marichev’s players.
Russia started
with self-confidence in the second set. Switzerland, on the other hand, proved
sometimes a certain lack of concentration in the own game: Lippuner’s
players couldn’t score on some easy balls and committed errors in the own
reception and defensive game. Russia said a thank you and won the set clearly
by 25-13. As a consequence, Switzerland needed to win the third set or lose only
by 21-25 to stop the Russian dreams of the semifinals.
Hope dies last,
says an old proverb. So the Brazilian national team, who was sitting in the
stands, hoped that the Swiss would find the way back into the rhythm of the
first set. However, it was a hard set for the Brazilian nerves. The Russian got
the early lead they needed. In the course of time, Yury Marichev’s players even
outscored the host. The title holder had to abandon all his hope for the
semi-finals as Russia won the last set by 25-15.
As a consequence
of the final ratio, the Russian national team passed to the semifinals at the
Montreux Volley Masters, with the Brazilian title holder out of the race for the trophy.