Rome, Italy, September 27, 2014 – This morning after the break day, Croatia won their second match of this FIVB Volleyball Women’s World Championship Italy 2014 Pool A with a 3-1 (25-6, 21-25, 25-16, 25-13) victory over Tunisia in Rome on Saturday.
Key Facts- Croatia qualified for the second round with the win and avoided losing for a third straight match.- Tunisia set two firsts in this match. Their six points was the lowest ever recorded in World Championship history dating back to when side-out scoring started in 2002. The set lasted only 18 minutes. However, they came back to win their first set in World Championship history over the course of 18 matches.- Tunisia had played the most matches in World Championship without winning a set.- Tunisia lost the first set in 18 minutes.- This was the first meeting between the two countries in the World ChampionshipCroatian Fabris Samanta was the best scorer of the match with 22 points and Karla Klaric added 14 points. Tunisia's best scorer was Kaouthar Jemaii with 11 points all on attack.
In the opening set, Croatia won by 25-10. At the start of the match there was Tunisia to service. Croatia started very well gaining five points consecutive going up 5-0. An ace of Mia Jerkov by the score of 3-0 ahead. The first technical time out arrived by the score of 8-3 for Croatia. Croatia managed the set very easily. Tunisia coach Mohamed Messelmeni changed Nihel Ghoul for Fatma Agrebi by the score of 12-4 and also he called the first time out. When to service there was Tunisian captain Mariem Brik, her team lost 15-5. Croatia won the set thanks to an ace of Karla Klaric.
At the start of the second set the Croatian coach took a yellow card and to service for the host team there was Bernarda Cutuk. This set started differently of the initial set. For the first time in this World Championship Tunisia was in advantage in a set by the score 4-1 and Angelo Vercesi called the first time out. When the first technical time out arrived, Tunisia was by the score of 8-2. Thanks to an error in service for Croatia, Tunisia went up 10-3. An ace of Maroua Boughanmi at 11-4, while an ace by Meserra Ben Halima and Tunisia went up 16-10. This set Tunisia seemed to have another focus. Tunisia coach Mohamed Messelmani called the first time out by the score of 17-13. Croatia conquered valuables points and Messelmani called the second time out by the score 18-17 under. Vercesi called the second time out as his team was trailing 21-18. The set was closed by the score of 25-21 and this was the first set gained by Tunisia in this FIVB Volleyball Women’s World Championship.
In the third set there was the comeback of Croatia. When arrived the first technical time out the score was 8-2 for Croatia. An ace by Samanta Fabris and Messelmani called the time out as his team was trailing 11-3. Tunisian team conquered some points, but they overcome the deficit. The host team managed easily the set, despite losing the previous set. Tunisia coach Mohamed Messelmeni called the second time out by the score of 21-12 under. A display of good aggressive attacks allowed Croatia to win the set. In the final part the host team took the set with a solid game winning 25-16. Also in this set the Croatian best scorer was Samanta Fabris with six points.
In the fourth set, Tunisia as the second set was in advantage for 4-1. But this advantage, Croatia allowed to level the margin and it overtook Tunisia going up 5-4. Good spike of Jelena Alajbeg and Croatia went up 7-5. Tunisia got one more time the draw by the score of 7-7, but when arrived the first technical time out Croatia won 8-7. Both teams played point to point and there was the Tunisian overtaking, but with pride Croatia recovered again the disadvantage and after it bulit an important advantage going up 14-10. The second technical time out arrived when the score was 16-11 for Croatia. Great spike by Jelena Alajbeg and Croatia went up 21-13. Tunisia coach Mohamed Messelmani called the second time out as his team was trailing 22-13. Croatia managed also this set very easily. With a block Croatia won also this set and it was closed by the score of 25-13.