December 3, Tokyo: Russia ended Japan's hopes of finishing their World Championships on a high by claiming seventh place. The Russians looked comfortable as they took the first set, but a spirited fightback in the second brought Japan back into contention.
Russia settled back into their rhythm, however, and came through to win the match 25-18, 22-25, 25-18, 25-17.
Alexander Kosarev wasted no time in introducing himself to the capacity crowd at Tokyo's Yoyogi National Stadium, drilling home a couple of quickfire points for Russia.
Nor did captain Semen Poltavsky, who landed an ace as the Europeans took an early 7-4 lead. But Yu Koshikawa and Takahiro Yamamoto showed they were up for the battle as Japan made the most of the chances that came their way in the opening exchanges.
Japan knew they would have to be at their best to overcome the height and power of Russia's blockers, as Alexey Kazakov demonstrated when he swatted the ball over at the net to take Russia's lead to 11-8.
Japanese captain Masaji Ogino was doing his best to cut the Russians' advantage, but at the second TTO the Europeans had a five-point cushion at 16-11. Ogino was involved in most of Japan's best attacking moves, and the captain played his defensive part too with a block on the left wing to reduce the deficit to three points.
But Russia were playing with a languid fluency that seemed to accumulate points without even breaking a sweat, and their gap in front was soon restored. A Kazakov block on Nobuhara Saito's spike attempt brought the score to 22-15, and set point for the Russians was growing ever closer.
When it came, Kazakov rose again at the net to finish the job. Kosarev continued Russia's dominance at the net as the second set got underway, although Kota Yamamura gave the Europeans a taste of their own medicine with a block of his own. A barrage from Koshikawa, then Ogino, helped Japan make up early lost ground, but Russia held on to a slender 8-7 lead at the first TTO.
A service run from Alexey Kuleshov helped Russia take back the initiative, with Alexander Korneev and Kazakov firing the bullets.
But substitute Shinya Chiba came off the bench to help Japan fight back, and the number 3 rifled over a spike from the left wing to draw the home side level at 13-13. With the wind in their sails, Yamamura took his chance to edge Japan into lead at 16-14, and suddenly the Russians were trailing for the first time in the match.
Japan did not give their opponents time to react after the restart. Ogino got his hands to another block, and Yamamoto flew down the wing to extend Japan's lead to 21-17. Japan were moving closer, and Yamamura brought up set point when he galloped towards the net to take the score to 24-20.
Russia escaped sudden death as they held out for a few more points, but eventually another Japanese foray down the left gave them the set. The third set began a much tighter affair than the previous two.
Yamamoto and Chiba both contributed winners for Japan, but Kazakov and Kuleshov made sure Russia were not far behind at the first TTO. A mix-up among the Japanese attack handed the advantage back to Russia, and a devastating serving run by Kosarev allowed the Europeans to streak ahead.
Japan coach Tatsuya Ueta called a time-out after his side had conceded eight points in a row, and although Yamamoto stopped the rot after the restart, Russia were on a roll at 16-9. Kuleshov added to the Europeans' growing points tally, and Korneev spiked through the Japanese defence to take the score to 21-14. Yamamoto ensured Russia would have to keep their minds on the job as he fired in three successive winners, but soon Korneev had taken his side to set point.
The Russian number 1 clinched the deal himself, coming through from the baseline to hammer in a drive at the net. Japan made sure Russia could not maintain their momentum as the fourth set began, with Saito, Chiba and Yamamoto helping their side into an 8-7 first TTO lead.
But a Stanislav Dineykin ace edged the Russians ahead soon after, and solid blocking by Kosarev consolidated their lead. With a 16-11 advantage going into the second TTO, Russia had the finish line in sight.
A Dineykin block on Chiba brought it closer, and Korneev drilled in a cross-court smash to keep up the pace. Kuleshov showed how keen Russia were to close out the match as he ran into the tables surrounding the court to keep the ball alive, and although a Koshikawa ace slowed the Europeans down a little, they soon had match point.
Kosarev raided down the left flank for a final time to fire the ball home and set the seal on Russia's seventh final ranking.
