Tokyo, Japan, December 3, 2006: Germany beat USA 3-2 in a wonderful match to clinch ninth place in the World Championships on Sunday.
Germany won the first two sets, missed a match point in the third, and finally clinched it on their third match point of the tie-break, and fourth in all.
The score was 25-17, 25-18, 25-27, 20-25, 17-15 to earn the 32nd-ranked Germans ninth position in their first appearance at the Worlds since 1994. The fifth-ranked Americans had to settle for 10th, one place lower than in 2002 and 1998.
Germany led 8-6 at the first TTO following some poor USA serves. In open play, though, Ryan Millar was looking sharp at the net, and was set for a tough battle with Ralph Bergmann.
Jim Polster found himself on the end of a Simon Tischer block before striking on the left, and Germany's Christian Pampel eventually capitalised on a booming serve from Stefan Hubner to score with a soaring spike on the right flank.
The Germans were throwing themselves around the court to keep the ball alive, and were serving better, too.
Marcus Popp was fortunate to see his gentle serve hit the net cord and drop over for an ace, and southpaw Tischer took Germany to the second technical break in front 16-13 with a hard, dipping serve that caught out the American back court and landed well inside the line.
When play resumed, Popp soared from the back court to spike down the middle after a decoy jump from Bergmann, and Bjorn Andrae proceeded to serve two consecutive aces either side of a USA TO at 19-14.
Popp's aggressive attacks moved Germany forward, and the same player was also strong on the block, turning back David McKienzie's effort for 23-16.
Popp played a big part in Germany clinching the first set 25-17, controlling a fast serve from Reid Priddy and seeing Pampel smash the ball home on the right wing. Popp scored six points in the first set alone.
Germany maintained the momentum in the second set, racing into an 8-3 lead against a subdued USA team, before the Americans found some fire and replied through Riley Salmon, Millar at the net and Priddy.
A Tom Hoff block on Pampel reduced the Americans' arrears to three points at 12-9, but the Germans fought back instantly for 14-9 and forced a USA TO. When Pampel scored again down the right, past a diving libero Rich Lambourne, Germany were looking good for the second set at 16-11.
Despite some searing winners from Priddy, the USA were second best, especially on serve and reception, and Jochen Schops blasted the Europeans to the second set 25-18 for 2-0.
Germany looked determined to end it in three. Their combinations were working much better, notably when Popp pushed one over on the left for 7-3, and the Americans knew they had to find some momentum and match the Germans' aggression and pace if they were to recover from 8-4 down at the first TTO.
The blocking of Bergmann and the fiery spiking of Andrae on the left underlined the Germans' superiority, before David McKienzie gave USA hope with a flashing winner down the right.
The rallies were growing longer and more intense as the Americans hung on, and when substitute setter Richard Brandon Taliaferro rose at the net to hammer home a loose ball, the scores were level 17-17.
Andrae brought up match point for Germany at 24-23, but McKienzie saved it with a bold, crashing winner down the right, 24-24.
When Taliaferro blocked Pampel, USA had set point at 25-24, only for Pampel himself to save it. The confident McKienzie brought up the Americans' second set point at 26-25, and the German attack broke down at a critical time to produce no shot and hand the third set to the USA, 27-25.
The whole complexion of the match had changed. The Germans, having been one point from victory, were now having to dig deep and start again, while the Americans were confident and noisy, having been given a big push by McKienzie.
Down 7-4 in the fourth frame, Germany changed their setter, captain Frank Dehne for Tischer, but the Americans had grabbed the initiative. Polster was back in business on the wing, McKienzie blocked and Priddy spiked.
When Hoff blocked Bergmann when they went head-to-head at the centre, USA were in command 19-11, and Bergmann left the action. Down 21-12, and with Germany having made five changes in the fourth set, Germany called a TO, but clearly the fourth set was beyond their reach.
Phil Eatherton scored easily at the net, Priddy climbed on the left and spiked fiercely, and Hubner served into the net on the Americans' fourth set point from 24-17 to close it 25-20 for 2-2.
The Germans began the tiebreak at breakneck speed. Inspired by Hubner, they raced into a 4-1 lead to send USA into a TO. Andrae, rising on the left, made it 6-3, but McKienzie kept the Americans in touch. A Polster ace closed the gap to one, 6-5, and forced a German TO, and Eatherton returned to block Pampel, 6-6.
The Americans turned round 8-7 ahead after Bergmann had spiked wide at the net, but he quickly made amends on the resumption of play.
Germany won it on their third match point of the tie-break and fourth in all, 17-15. The spiking of Pampel and block of Popp proved decisive.
