the live picture from the volleyball competition down in Long Beach this is
the game running late between Italy and Japan but it's a good one apparently
because they're in the fifth game must be pretty good Bobby Addy sure is Jim as
a matter of fact kind of side interesting Japan was favored to win
this game they came out though in Italy took the first two games 15-5 15-11 in
Japan kind of woke up just a little bit and they came back and won the next two
games 15-10 15-10 the score is now tied in the fifth and deciding game at 10 all
Japan just scored there they're now leading 11 to 10 Kirk Kilgore our
expert commentator Kirk you a little bit surprised at this well I don't think I
would say surprise I think this Italian team has a lot of talent they beat a
real strong Canada team the first round they're just showing that they are a
good team it wasn't a fluke well one thing to remember about this Japanese
team they were beaten by the United States opponent coming up later tonight
South Korea in Japan so that the United States men might have their work cut
out for they'll be playing after this game
into the net by Japan side out probably seen a lot of good rallies in this match
I've been playing defense and both teams are playing very well well this this
match has been going on now for over two hours and ten minutes so these five
game matches can go on a long time you might mention also that there are two
pulls in volleyball in Group A we have the United States and South Korea who
they'll be playing tonight this is a group B let's take a look at a replay
though look at left-hander high outside set nobody up fake the block out great
play by the center and as I was saying in the in the pools this is group B
so the United States would not play either of these teams unless they get to
the semi-finals the top two teams from each of the round robin in Group A and
Group B go on to the semi-finals Italy serving
setter for
three he did not start his name is Mitaki he is 32 years old one of the oldest
players in the tournament they must have felt they needed the experience they
weren't getting very good setting out of their regular set up to account who's
only 23 but talk he's been around a long time
side out Italy getting down to the final moments every point is very important
right here 15 points to win you have to win by two points this is set by the
Mitaki Japanese team is very quick they are particularly tall but they have
great floor movement earlier tonight they look very lethargic it looked like
they're almost in a daze out here sure did we just saw their best hitter
Tanaka hit that ball he really bangs it
no doubt about that one de Meadow of Italy will also be serving side out
think too many uninformed people Italian team to surprise but they play great
volleyball in Italy they're showing it now you know going through the rosters
of all the international teams it seems as though several of the players on all
of the countries teams have played in Italy they have a great league in Italy
most of the first team all roles played there in the last four or five years
matches now tied at 11 you played there yourself 1976 I played there for three
years and I had a great time it was a great experience for those of you who
have been listening to all of us talk about volleyball let's take a look at an
overall overhead replay right there so overhead shows us the movement of the
players you can see from the back the defense doesn't quite set up right balls
down what I want to say here is that Kirk Kilgore who played in Italy in 1976
one of the top US players ever developed in this country was injured in a balding
accident is a quadriplegic working with me in the booth and doing a great job
glad to have you here Italy now leading 12 to 11 that was a big play by Italy
they needed that block let's see what the Japanese teams made out of they're
supposed to one of the top four teams in the world it's a big hitter for Italy is
number four Petoli you can see them go to him here's the set to Petoli right
here good luck by Japan great block he's a big hitter for Italy that time block
got it why serving now 21 year old oh bad sir that sir should cost and very
well could cost Japan the match we'll take a look and see what happens from
here side out in the only get points in volleyball while you're serving they're
leading 12 to 11 point Italy 13 11 two points to win the match that actually
wasn't the setters fault that passes too close to men totally serving their best
all-around and most experienced player almost dug it out right there too side
out Japan let's take a look at that Kirk here it comes good pass to the center
he shoots a short set behind jumps up by the blocker inside he's supposed to
block that cross-court ball
right out Luigi Bob and Italy's had a lot of success going to the middle tonight
with their bigger players going over the Japanese middle blockers 15 points
needed to win have to win by two points this Italian team came into the
tournament the favorites in their group were Canada and Japan but they came in
and just dusted Canada right out of there that was a major surprise Canadians
have a very strong volleyball team and now have their work cut out for them they
have yet to play Japan and we'll have to beat Japan they have a chance to get
into the semi-finals
14 11 could be the match right here
well that was an important side out man needs a run right now to get back in
this match pen as their best front line and now let's see if they can pull a
matchup oh number six just pushed it right over there
Giro rubber dingo great play by one time Bob I thought we're gonna have him
playing for some Pepperdine I mentioned the Kirk is also the assistant coach of
Pepperdine I know you recruited him
ball is out side out let's take another look at that Italy has a chance to win
it here high outside set Marco Negri hits it barely out of
bounds I thought it was good all the big cities in Italy have volleyball teams
very well publicized well televised sport there good block by a link about
the difference in this game has been Italy's block they've blocked three or
four right here at the end and they lead 14 11 and it's match point let's take a
look at this block here comes the set both blockers in great position hands up
older than that straight down great play that's point
hardest point to score Bob is the four is a 15th one top hitter on the Japanese
team to not know Japan Charlie 14 11 deciding game and here he is
well great save by the center that's two saves each side has had a center save
that ball 12 14 it's a great game once again we'll be showing the US men
playing a very strong team from South Korea later this evening U.S. men are
undefeated as is the team from South Korea
here's Batali again will they go to him all the time don't they particularly
when these matches get tight
again a saving dig by Japan they're known for their defense and they're
going in here well they brought this match back to 14 13 now they can tie it
up right here substitution
readily
the metal coming out cheddar going in Bobby might mention the blockers are
allowed to reach over the net as long as they don't touch the net they can reach
as far as they can this match is all tied up at 14 deciding that you can't
get any closer than this right now three out of five after win by two a great
diving save on the serve by Marco Negri he saved that a sir and just as soon as
he's in the game to make that save he's right back out again the metal will be
serving the floor here in the floor for the
perspiration
this match this game right here this match could really decide who's going to
go into the semi-finals one of these teams will be in the semi-finals or both
Canada has their work cut out for them they have to beat Japan
well never clear the net wait let's check it in the replay ball an aqua
block into the antenna great call by the umpire he saw it the ball can't touch
that antenna what's out of play side out for Japan Tanaka serving have a chance
to see those antennas Bob the ball must be hit inside the antennas across the
net tied at 14 Tanaka serving
and now the pendulum that's one back in Japan's favor they lead 15-14 in this
their match point
substitution totally coming out why this substitution this seems to be their
best player well he has been her best player all night long I'm not sure why
you would make this move we'll have to see this is a great win for Japan they
were down they came back Italy now has beaten Canada now lost to Japan United
States yet to come very exciting match out here tonight