Semifinal July 12. World League 2003 Final Report. Hristo Zlatanov attacks for Italy

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Bartholomew McKinney
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Semifinal July 12 > H I G H L Serbia & Montenegro v.

Italy in the opening semifinal in straight sets to earn their first ever place in the final of this elite annual men s Volleyball competition.

1 Semifinal July 12 > H I G H L Serbia & Montenegro v. Italy Semifinals After playing text-book quality Volleyball in the preliminaries Serbia and Montenegro went on to deliver a Volleyball lesson to Italy in the opening semifinal in straight sets to earn their first ever place in the final of this elite annual men s Volleyball competition. It was the sixth win for Serbia and Montenegro against their geographic neighbors Italy from 13 World League clashes since the competition began 14 years ago. For Serbia and Montenegro, the Grbic brothers Nikola and Vladimir (Vanja), arguably the most famous siblings in the sport, combined in a dazzling display of tactical Vol- Hristo Zlatanov attacks for Italy Miljkovic and Dula Mester show excellent defense against Italy s captain Andrea Giani All eyes on the ball for Serbia and Montenegro 42 World League 2003 Final Report

I G H T S < Semifinal July 12 leyball and together with their teammates, contrived to both outfox and outplay the Squadra Azzura.

If Volleyball was an opera, it fell to Brazil to sing the leading aria as they faced newcomers the Czech Republic and with a swift three set victory,

For the second year running, Italy was to play off for the bronze medal against World League debutants the Czech Republic. Czech Republic v.

2 I G H T S < Semifinal July 12 leyball and together with their teammates, contrived to both outfox and outplay the Squadra Azzura. However, if the first semifinal was amazing, Brazil was set to dazzle in the second. If Volleyball was an opera, it fell to Brazil to sing the leading aria as they faced newcomers the Czech Republic and with a swift three set victory, all that stood between them and their third World League title was to sing the encore against Olympic Champions Serbia and Montenegro in the final. For the second year running, Italy was to play off for the bronze medal against World League debutants the Czech Republic. Czech Republic v. Brazil Martin Lebl was one of the Czech Republic s best scorers against Brazil Semifinals July Jul YUG-ITA Jul BRA-CZE Sérgio celebrates as Brazil reaches the World League Final World League 2003 Final Report 43

Places 3-4 July 13 Bronze medal match Volleyball s Old World triumphed over the sport s New World in the play off for bronze when eight-time World League winners Italy came from behind to defeat

The Czechs, with nothing to lose, looked serious and Jakub Novotny was in smashing form helping his team to take the first set when Martin Lebl had the honor of stabbing home the 25-22 winner.

3 Places 3-4 July 13 Bronze medal match Volleyball s Old World triumphed over the sport s New World in the play off for bronze when eight-time World League winners Italy came from behind to defeat debutants the Czech Republic 3-1 in four strenuous sets. The Czechs, with nothing to lose, looked serious and Jakub Novotny was in smashing form helping his team to take the first set when Martin Lebl had the honor of stabbing home the winner. Italian mini-packs Matej Cernic (192 cm) and Samuele Papi (190 cm) put Italy well in front in the second set to level at one set all. And Italy looked a different side in the vital third and quickly ran up an lead, helped by some piercing spikes by Papi and Alessandro Fei. At they looked strong but Czech Republic clawed back to Then Novotny s serve went wide and Italy had set point. Lebl defended the first but not the second and Italy had a 2-1 lead. The Czech team came on strong in the fourth set and had the margin at 11-7 and until Papi dropped a shot over to equalize at 13-all. At Italy had bought their tickets for the glory train. They squandered their first match point when Fei s serve went wide but then Marek Novotny did the same and the bronze medal belonged to Italy. Samuele Papi completes an Italian attack 44 World League 2003 Final Report Luigi Mastrangelo spikes into the Czech defense Martin Lebel on his way to scoring 14 points for the Czech Republic

4 Italy - Czech Republic Marco Meoni sets up Alessandro Fei High fives for Czech Republic libero Premysl Obdrzalek Italy claim the bronze medal Places 3-4 July Jul ITA-CZE World League 2003 Final Report 45

It was a truly great contest between the sport s poets (Brazil) and its warriors (Serbia and Montenegro) in front more than 10,000 Volleyball aficionados.

5 The Final Serbia & Final July 13 Two form teams turned on what will go down as one of the best finals in the history of the World League. It was unfortunate that someone had to lose but in the end Brazil triumphed in an epic 3-2 marathon just seven minutes shy of two hours. It was a truly great contest between the sport s poets (Brazil) and its warriors (Serbia and Montenegro) in front more than 10,000 Volleyball aficionados. Driven on by bongo drums and near hysterical fans, Brazil had Giovani Gavio and Andre Nascimento delivering a full range of killer spikes to take the first set Serbia and Montenegro tried to settle quickly in the second set and eventually sealed it to draw even. By now the underdogs had caught hold of Brazil s coat tails and were challenging them at their own masterly game of deception to polish off the third set and take a 2-1 lead. Serbia s early lead in the fourth stilled the hysteria in the stands but Brazil took the set to force what will surely be one of the great tiebreakers. What followed was pure drama and although the ball finally dropped for Brazil at 31-29, both teams should have been showered with glory. Brazil finished the match as the World League titleholders in addition to their World Championship title and new position on top of the FIVB world rankings, but they left Spain with the greatest respect for Serbia and Montenegro. An epic contest between two great sides Libero for Serbia and Montenegro Vasa Mijic reaches to make the receive 46 World League 2003 Final Report Goran Vujevic spikes past André Heller (No 4)

6 Montenegro - Brazil Ivan Miljkovic tips over André Nascimento So close: A hugely disappointed Slobodan Boskan Brazil are 2003 World League champions Places 1-2 July Jul YUG-BRA World League 2003 Final Report 47

Best Players of the Finals Ivan Miljkovic Ivan Miljkovic s right arm must be revered around most of Serbia and Montenegro because it was responsible for

The 206cm 24-year-old has been an instrumental figure in the recent success of Serbia and Montenegro and again proved unstoppable registering a mammoth 78

Two years later he played a decisive role in Serbia and Montenegro s gold medal winning performance at the Sydney Olympics before more recently finishing as

7 Best Players of the Finals Ivan Miljkovic Ivan Miljkovic s right arm must be revered around most of Serbia and Montenegro because it was responsible for seeing Ivan The Terrible walk away from the World League Finals with the Best Scorer title for the third year running. The 206cm 24-year-old has been an instrumental figure in the recent success of Serbia and Montenegro and again proved unstoppable registering a mammoth 78 spikes in two games. Miljkovic debuted in international Volleyball in 1998 at the World Championship in Japan where Serbia and Montenegro placed third. Two years later he played a decisive role in Serbia and Montenegro s gold medal winning performance at the Sydney Olympics before more recently finishing as top scorer at the 2001 European championship and second-best scorer at last year s World Championship. Best scorer Caption for the picture on 2 lines for small comment 48 World League 2003 Final Report

Martin Lebl Best spiker No 1 in the Czech Republic lineup Martin Lebl is huge in every sense of the word and was an immense figure

His presence on top of the Best Spiker standings with a success ratio of 44.

At 201cm and 108kgs he has a huge presence on court and his physical approach gives plenty of headaches to opposing sides.

8 Martin Lebl Best spiker No 1 in the Czech Republic lineup Martin Lebl is huge in every sense of the word and was an immense figure in the Czech Republic s stunning run through to the World League semifinals. His presence on top of the Best Spiker standings with a success ratio of 44.59% is a significant reflection of the quality of his play and the role he has in the Czech Republic team. At 201cm and 108kgs he has a huge presence on court and his physical approach gives plenty of headaches to opposing sides. But most of all he is a monster attacking weapon for the Czechs and, just as accustomed on defense at the block, Lebl is guaranteed to feature as one of the most potent and destructive weapons around the net for many years to come. The Best... World League 2003 Final Report 49

Best Players of the Finals Andrija Geric The 203cm middle blocker from Novi Sad had a fantastic 2003 World League and it showed in the statistics, with him finishing as the Best Blocker and

Big in stature, Andrija Geric was often seen spurring on his team, offering advice or leading the group celebrations and he is clearly an inspiration to a team ripe with practical talent like

Never one to turn down a moment to involve the crowd Geric thrived on the atmosphere of the converted bullring of Vistalegre Stadium and proved to be one of Serbia and Montenegro s finest,

9 Best Players of the Finals Andrija Geric The 203cm middle blocker from Novi Sad had a fantastic 2003 World League and it showed in the statistics, with him finishing as the Best Blocker and Best Server, while also finishing seventh on the Best Scorer rankings, proving that this 26-year-old is reaching the prime of his career. Big in stature, Andrija Geric was often seen spurring on his team, offering advice or leading the group celebrations and he is clearly an inspiration to a team ripe with practical talent like Miljkovic, the Grbic brothers, Goran Vujevic and others. Never one to turn down a moment to involve the crowd Geric thrived on the atmosphere of the converted bullring of Vistalegre Stadium and proved to be one of Serbia and Montenegro s finest, using his massive 203cm, 101kg frame to the best effect. Geric has been an integral part of the Serbia and Montenegro side (formerly Yugoslavia) since 1995 and was inspirational in Yugoslavia s gold medal performance at the Sydney Olympics in 2000, the European Championship win a year later and the last five World Leagues. Best blocker Best server 50 World League 2003 Final Report

10 Best scorers Rk. Shirt Name Team Spike Block Serve Total 1 14 Miljkovic Ivan YUG Novotny Jakub CZE Nascimento André BRA Lebl Martin CZE Gavio Giovane BRA Bitencourt Nalbert BRA Geric Andrija YUG Fei Alessandro ITA Giani Andrea ITA Mastrangelo Luigi ITA Papi Samuele ITA Best spikers Rk. Shirt Name Team Spikes Faults Shots Total Eff. Atts. % 1 1 Lebl Martin CZE Novotny Jakub CZE Miljkovic Ivan YUG Nascimento André BRA Papi Samuele ITA Vujevic Goran YUG Bitencourt Nalbert BRA Giani Andrea ITA Gavio Giovane BRA Dubs Ivo CZE Best blockers Rk. Shirt Name Team Blocks Faults Rebounds Total Avg. Atts by set 1 12 Geric Andrija YUG Mastrangelo Luigi ITA Lebl Martin CZE Novotny Jakub CZE Fei Alessandro ITA Heller André BRA Grbic Nikola YUG Bitencourt Nalbert BRA Santana Rodrigo BRA Nascimento André BRA Best servers Rk. Shirt Name Team Aces Faults Serve Total Avg. Hits Atts by set 1 12 Geric Andrija YUG Miljkovic Ivan YUG Gavio Giovane BRA Nascimento André BRA Santana Rodrigo BRA Bitencourt Nalbert BRA Dubs Ivo CZE Lebl Martin CZE Heller André BRA Mastrangelo Luigi ITA The Best... World League 2003 Final Report 51

2003 Balance Sheet. on all their reserves in an epic final where they walked away as the unlucky runner s up.

2003 Balance Sheet. on all their reserves in an epic final where they walked away as the unlucky runner s up. 2003 Balance Sheet having finished a spectacular campaign in style after some indifferent Intercontinental Round form. Their combination of speed and power from the likes of Ivan Miljkovic and Goran Vujevic