HIROSHIMA, Japan, November 26, 2006.- France came back from the brink to keep alive their semi-final ambitions at the Men’s Volleyball World Championship with a determined five-sets victory over USA by score of 17-25, 25-12, 24-26, 25-17, 15-11.

 

Frantz Granvorka led the French charge with 21 points. American David McKinzie had 24 points and Reid Priddy added 17.

 

USA coach Hugh McCutcheon: “We are disappointed to lose, but we can at least take that with each match our side looks more and more like a USA team. Our guys came out with a good fighting spirit, and we weren't lacking any effort. I think the guys who came off the bench did a good job, and we will keep fighting to get out of the group and win as many matches as possible."

 

Also in Pool F, Italy defeated Cuba 25-20, 25-15, 23-25, 25-15 and now boasts a 4-1 record ahead of their crucial clash on Tuesday against defending champions Brazil, also 4-1. Cuba dropped to 0-5 and is now in real danger of failing to qualify for the top six and a place in the positional play-offs.

 

Italian Alberto Cisolla led his side with 22 points while Michael Sanchez was the best Cuban with 17 while Oreol Camejo and Raydel Corrales had 10 apiece.

 

Roberto Garcia, Cuba head coach: "Our strategy today didn't work out for us so I'm not really very satisfied with the result. But it was a good game and the way we fought against Italy was good. We now have to win our final two games against Czech Republic and USA if we want to get to the play-offs."

 

In Pool E at Sendai, third-ranked Russia brushed aside Puerto Rico in straight sets 25-20, 25-16, 25-15 to improve their record to 4-1. Puerto Rico dropped to 1-4 in the group.

 

Semen Poltavsky and Alexey Kuleshov were the best Russians with 17 and 10 points respectively. Puerto Ricans Hector Soto and Luis Rodriguez had 11 and 10 points.

 

Carlos Cardona, Puerto Rico head coach: “It was the first game in which we were totally dominated by the opponent. We, of course, have shown our weaknesses as well as strengths but we were at least competitive in all the games so far. I don't think it was a particularly bad game but they didn't let us play in our normal style.”

 

Poland powered to a 3-0 victory over Canada. The Poles won 25-21, 25-17, 25-17 to improve their Pool E record to 5-0, and they have still to drop a set in seven matches in the first and second rounds. Canada slipped to 1-4 following their second straight defeat in Pool E.

 

Mariusz Wlazly topped the Poland charge with 18 points and Sebastian Swiderski added 11. Paul Duerden was the only Canadian in double digits with 14 points.

Glenn Hoag, Canada head coach: “I asked the players to stay disciplined and play with more quality. Right now Poland is too strong for us, but we tried to maintain a decent playing level and I think we did that in the first set and part of the second set. I am somewhat satisfied for part of the game for us.”