Yugoslavia - Greece 3-0 (25-21, 25-17, 25-21)

Slobodan Boskan smashes the ball against Greece

Salta, ARGENTINA, October 4 (fivb.ch) - Yugoslavia defeated Greece in straight sets in the first match of the second round Pool K of the 2002 Men's World Volleyball Championship. The Yugoslavians, the current Olympic and European Champion, showed the spectators in Salta why they remained unbeaten in the first round. Yugoslavia played at a very high level, and is one of the favorites to win this event.

Under high temperature conditions in the Northern Argentine city of Salta, the Yugoslavian machine continued their sensational winning streak against Greece, the team that is already proud to be in the second round. The Olympic and European Champions booked its fourth victory. The Yugoslavian team was the master of the court in all skills. On the Greek side, setter Vasileios Kournetas was not able to play because he was ill for some days. Theodoros Bozidis replaced him.

In the beginning of the first set, Yugoslavia and Greece played the same level. Yugoslavia was only leading with a difference of two points, but as the Yugoslavians always do, they never gave the lead away. After the second technical time-out, the Yugoslavians increased the gap to four points. They showed a high level volleyball, especially in block. The best scorer was the Yugoslavian opposite attacker Ivan Miljkovic (six points).

The difference between the two teams was much clearer in the second set. The Greeks tried to score with great attacks, but these efforts were stopped by the strong Yugoslavian block. The four kill blocks Yugoslavia made was enough to clinch the set. The Greek substitutions of head coach Stelios Prosalikas didn't help to destroy the Yugoslavian rhythm.

In the third set, both teams showed they felt tired because of the high temperature in the Stadium. Greece was able to follow the 1998 runner-up, but the experience of Grbic brought Yugoslavia the victory. Yugoslavian Ivan Miljkovic was the best scorer of the match with 15 points. "We are not afraid of any opponent, but we know that the most difficult match will be against USA later in this round," Miljkovic said.

2002 Men's World Volleyball Championship second round first matches

Pool G (Buenos Aires):
Italy - Bulgaria 3-2 (31-33, 25-22, 23-25, 25-18, 15-13)
Argentina - Japan 3-2 (25-21, 21-25, 25-27, 25-21, 16-14)

Current standings

  
  1. Italy            1  1  0  3-2  119-111  2 
  2. Argentina        1  1  0  3-2  112-108  2 
  3. Japan            1  0  1  2-3  108-112  1 
  4. Bulgaria         1  0  1  2-3  111-119  1 

 
  1. Russia          1  1  0  3-2  109-100  2 
  2. Portugal        1  1  0  3-2  106-104  2 
  3. Spain           1  0  1  2-3  104-106  1 
  4. Poland          1  0  1  2-3  100-109  1                 
 

  
  1. France          1  1  0   3-0  76-56  2 
  2. Brazil          1  1  0   3-0  75-58  2 
  3. Chech Republic  1  0  1   0-3  58-75  1 
  4. Netherlands     1  0  1   0-3  56-76  1               

  1. Yugoslavia      1  1  0   3-0  75-59  2 
  2. USA             1  1  0   3-0  80-70  2 
  3. China           1  0  1   0-3  70-80  1 
  4. Greece          1  0  1   0-3  59-75  1