The Olympic Games in Beijing - Elimination Round

    Who will win the Olympic Games 83

    1. Poland (7) 8%
    2. Serbia (2) 2%
    3. Cuba (3) 4%
    4. Japan (2) 2%
    5. China (6) 7%
    6. USA (4) 5%
    7. Russia (16) 19%
    8. Italy (12) 14%
    9. Brazil (31) 37%


    Qualified Teams:
    Pool A:
    Japan
    Venezuela
    Poland
    China
    Cuba
    United States of America


    Pool B:
    Italy
    Russia
    Brazil
    Serbia
    Kazakhstan
    Algeria






    Saturday, 09.08.2008
    Pool B
    Italy - Russia 3:1 (25:20, 17:25, 25:16, 25:23)
    Serbia - Kazakhstan 3:1 (25:21, 25:17, 23:25, 25:21)
    Algeria - Brazil 0:3 (11:25, 11:25, 10:25)



    Pool A:
    Poland - Cuba 1:3 (25:21, 17:25, 20:25, 17:25)
    Venezuela - China 0:3 (13:25, 13:25, 18:25)
    Japan - USA 1:3 (20:25, 25:20, 19:25, 21:25)



    Monday, 11.08.2008
    Pool B:
    Algeria - Serbia 0:3 (14:25, 13:25, 13:25)
    Kazakhstan - Italy 0:3 (19:25, 15:25, 21:25)
    Brazil - Russia 3:0 (25:14, 25:14, 25:16)


    Pool A:
    USA - Cuba 0:3 (15:25, 24:26, 17:25)
    China - Poland 3:1 (22:25, 25:15, 25:20, 25:22)
    Japan - Venezuela 3:0 (25:12, 25:17, 25:12)



    Wednesday, 13.08.2008
    Pool B:
    Italy - Algeria 3:0 (25:7, 25:20, 25:12)
    Russia - Kazakhstan 3:0 (25:19, 25:18, 25:11)
    Serbia - Brazil 0:3 (15:25, 13:25, 23:25)


    Pool A:
    Venezuela - USA 1:3 (17:25, 25:20, 14:25, 18:25)
    Cuba - China 3:2 (18:25, 14:25, 25:23 , 32:30, 15:13)
    Poland - Japan 2:3 (21:25, 20:25, 25:18, 25:23, 11:15)



    Friday, 15.08.2008
    Pool B:
    Algeria – Russia 0:3 (11:25 19:25 10:25)
    Brazil - Kazakhstan 3:0 (25:13 25:6 27:25)
    Serbia - Italy 0:3 (23:25 20:25 19:25)


    Pool A:
    Venezuela - Poland 0:3 (12:25 12:25 20:25)
    USA - China 3:2 (23:25 25:22 23:25 25:20 15:11)
    Japan - Cuba 0:3 (17:25 22:25 22:25)



    Sunday, 17.08.2008
    Pool B:
    Kazakhstan - Algeria 3:1 (25:18, 25:20, 17:25, 25:16)
    Italy - Brazil 0:3 (16:25, 22:25 , 17:25)
    Russia - Serbia 3:0 (25:21, 25:16, 25:20)



    Pool A:
    Cuba - Venezuela 3:0 (25:20, 25:20, 25:19)
    Poland - USA 2:3 (25:18 , 21:25, 25:19, 19:25, 13:15)
    China - Japan 3:0 (26:24, 25:16, 25:14)




    Quarterfinals, 19.08.2008
    Cuba - Serbia 3:0 (26:24, 25:19, 26:24)
    USA     - Italy 3:2 (20:25, 25:21, 19:25, 25:18, 15:6)
    China - RUS 3:0 (25:22, 27:25, 25:19)
    Japa - Brasil 0:3 (12:25, 20:25, 16:25)



    Semifinals, 21.08.2008
    Cuba - USA
    China - Brasil


    Bronze Medal match and Final, 23.08.2008


    ____________________________________________________________________________________________________


    >>> Go to the Prediction Game <<<


    I think the games will fairly exciting. I wish Poland could do their best and go into the 1/4 matches. BTW, CCTV says it is illegal to put the videos of Olympic games on the Internet during the games in China.



    Edit by Armel: for any discussion about the legality of puting videos of OG on the internet, please see this thread.

    I don't think Jenny Lang will take Joines to BeiJing.and I hope Willoughby will have some opportunity

    Its illegal to put any matches on the internet without copyrights... :roll: Thats why we will have to think about what to do with the multimedia section soon. But this is a different topic we want to concentrate on after the OGs.


    And as for the Games, its pretty interesting now after the GP.
    We saw a great performance by Brazil, which makes them the favourite for the gold. We also saw some weakness of the Italian and Chinese team. And also some strong performances by the american and japanese teams.
    What is interesting now is to see the other teams in action, such as Serbia, Russia and Algeria.
    Another team, which left open questionmarks until the Games is Poland, which played awefully in the GP. It is questionable now if the team will be able to improve.




    Edit by Armel: for any discussion about the legality of puting videos of OG on the internet, please see this thread.

    I think they shoudn't have any problems with CUBA .But they will have a lot of work with Chine's girls since they are host's of OG.Here is also a JAPAN who has a wery strong team, so, Ihope POLAND girls are in better shape that they were in Wroclav GP and in Thailand GP.I wish them all the best in BEIJING in a hope that I could watch them in a final.

    Quote from Tomaz Pisek

    I think they shoudn't have any problems with CUBA .But they will have a lot of work with Chine's girls since they are host's of OG.Here is also a JAPAN who has a wery strong team, so, Ihope POLAND girls are in better shape that they were in Wroclav GP and in Thailand GP.I wish them all the best in BEIJING in a hope that I could watch them in a final.


    I have slightly another opinion. Cuba seems to be a very strong team know and the game against them might be very important for Poles. We HAVE TO win against Venezuela and Japan, then fight against USA. China... If they weren't hosts everything would be possible, but in Beijing - it will be terribly difficult to beat them. I think second place in the pool for Poland is possible, although it will be hard to achieve it.
    In another pool is rather everything clear: Kazakhstan and Algieria without realistic chances to qualify.

    The most important 3:
    POLAND-SZCZECIN-VOLLEYBALL


    5th place - Prediction Game - World League 2011 :D

    looks like there will be a prediction game.Great!!! :drink: :thumbsup:

    Italy should be this:


    Lo Bianco, Ferretti


    Ortolani, Centoni


    Aguero, Piccinini, Secolo, Croce


    Gioli, Guiggi, Barazza


    Cardullo


    Some chances for Bosetti and Anzanello.


    This way naturally without Antonella, otherwise she would absolutely be in.

    OFFICIAL OLYMPIC ROSTER - USA Women's Team


    1 - Ogonna Nnamani (OH, 6-1, 2004, Bloomington, Ill., Stanford/2005, 7/29/83)
    2 -     Danielle Scott-Arruda (MB, 6-2, 1996-2000-2004, Baton Rouge, La., Long Beach St./1994, 10/1/72)
    3 -     Tayyiba Haneef-Park (OPP, 6-7, 2004, Laguna Hills, Calif., Long Beach St./2001, 3/23/79)
    4 -     Lindsey Berg (S, 5-8, 2004, Honolulu, Hawai’i, Minnesota/2001, 7/16/80)
    5 -     Stacy Sykora (L, 5-10, 2000-2004, Burleson, Texas, Texas A&M/1999, 6/24/77)
    6 -     Nicole Davis (L, 5-4, None, Stockton, Calif, USC/2004, 4/24/82)
    7 -     Heather Bown (MB, 6-3, 2000-2004, Yorba Linda, Calif., Hawai’i/2005, 11/29/78)
    9 -     Jennifer Joines (MB, 6-4, None, Milpitas, Calif., Pacific/2004, 11/23/82)
    10 -     Kimberly Glass (OH, 6-2, None, Lancaster, Pa., Arizona/NA, 8/18/84)
    11 -     Robyn Ah Mow-Santos (S, 5-7, 2000-2004, Honolulu, Hawai’i, Hawai’i/1996, 9/15/75)
    12 -     Kim Willoughby (OH, 5-10, None, Napoleonville, La., Hawai’i/TBA, 11/07/80)
    15 -     Logan Tom (OH, 6-1, 2000-2004, Salt Lake City, Utah, Stanford/NA, 5/25/81)



    BREAKDOWN:


    Setters - 2 (Ahmow-Santos, Berg)


    MB - 3 (Bown, Scott-Aruda, Joines)


    OH - 4 (Tom, Nnamani, Glass, Willoughby)


    Opp - 1 (Haneef)


    Libero - 2 (Sykora, Davis)



    ******************************


    Willoughby is in to add some firepower. I really thought she'll help the team.

    "[size=8]It's years and years of work and sacrifice and dedication. Along with a lot of these girls, we've sweat and we've bled and we've cried together in past Olympics. It just brought tears to my eyes, & I'm more than thrilled. This will be forever." -LOGAN MAILE LEI TOM (Silver Medallist - 2008 Beijing & 2012 London Olympic Games, 2011 World Cup runner up, 2003 & 2007 World Cup 3rd place, 2002 World Champs runner up, 4-time World GrandPrix Champs)

    Does anybody know who will be in the start 6 of the Polish NT ???

    To a beloved person:
    Eine Sonne ist untergegangen - ihr Schein bleibt uns noch lange erhalten.
    Wenn die Liebe einen Weg zum Himmel fände und Erinnerungen zu Stufen würden, dann würde ich hinaufsteigen und dich zurückholen.
    I will never forget you...

    Quote from Zwergvogel

    Does anybody know who will be in the start 6 of the Polish NT ???

    It's hard to say :) Probable "6" :


    Sadurek
    Skowrońska
    Glinka, Podolec
    Liktoras, Dziękiewicz
    Zenik


    There are girls who didn't play in Grand Prix and trained in Poland (Sadurek and Dziękiewicz played only in first tournament)


    But it's possible that Barańska and Bednarek will play in "6". Of course the final "12" isn't known and for example, we still don't know if Bednarek will go to Beijing.

    Quote from pol

    But it's possible that Barańska and Bednarek will play in "6". Of course the final "12" isn't known and for example, we still don't know if Bednarek will go to Beijing.


    I hope that Baranska will be part of the "6". I think she played really god during the last months !!

    To a beloved person:
    Eine Sonne ist untergegangen - ihr Schein bleibt uns noch lange erhalten.
    Wenn die Liebe einen Weg zum Himmel fände und Erinnerungen zu Stufen würden, dann würde ich hinaufsteigen und dich zurückholen.
    I will never forget you...

    Quote from pol

    Sadurek
    Skowrońska
    Glinka, Podolec
    Liktoras, Dziękiewicz
    Zenik

    Hmm i would say that Baranska will be in the starting 6, cos she starts good and at the end gets worse usually though Podolec works the other way around :D
    Im not sure about Dziękiewicz, i wasnt satisfied with her last matches and Gajgał and Bednarek impressed me. But still i guess that Lena will be in the starting team. Especially since Liktoras is a big questionmark right now.


    No need to talk about Kasia and Maggie i guess :lol:

    Yes, Barańska should be in first 6. I hope she will be in form from tournament in Halle, not from last GP. If Liktoras is fit, she will play as "6" player, but if not: Bednarek and Dziękiewicz should be the middle blockers pair. But Bonitta might surprise us. Who knows?

    The most important 3:
    POLAND-SZCZECIN-VOLLEYBALL


    5th place - Prediction Game - World League 2011 :D

    What about Milena Rosner, isn't she enought god for the first 6 ?? I saw here at the GP and I thoght she was better than others of the team there.


    (I know that Skowronska and co. didn't play there)

    To a beloved person:
    Eine Sonne ist untergegangen - ihr Schein bleibt uns noch lange erhalten.
    Wenn die Liebe einen Weg zum Himmel fände und Erinnerungen zu Stufen würden, dann würde ich hinaufsteigen und dich zurückholen.
    I will never forget you...

    Quote from Zwergvogel

    What about Milena Rosner, isn't she enought god for the first 6 ?? I saw here at the GP and I thoght she was better than others of the team there.


    (I know that Skowronska and co. didn't play there)

    Well...Rosner rather won't play in starting six. Her main job is to improve reception.

    I am very happy cause I'll be on vacation during the Olympic Games. I'll be able to watch all the matches of both the men's and the women's volleyball competition.


    This OG will be very balanced. All the teams will be at the top of their forms and I have this feeling we'll be able to watch very close matches during the whole competition.


    Last OG, 5 out of the 7 the last decisive matches (2 matches of the quarterfinals, 2 matches of the seimifinals and the final match) were decided in the tie-breaker:


    Cuba 3 - 2 Italy
    Brazil 3 - 2 USA
    China 3 - 2 Cuba
    Russia 3 - 2 Brazil
    China 3 - 2 Russia


    I won't be surprised if all the decisive matches were decided in the tie-breaker!


    I wish everyone could have a good time watching the OG volleyball tournament and I hope we could be able to control our nerves!

    When I heard this news I just couldn't believe it!


    How come FIVB can do this? All the teams have spent 4 years playing with one kind of ball and 20 days before the OG they introduce a new ball. According to the players of the Brazilian Men's Team, this ball is more smooth than the other one, which makes it more difficult to receive the serves. They said this ball feels like a basketball and if this ball gets wet with sweat, it is almost impossible to control it.

    The mentioned report also said the players of Bulgaria's Men Team lost some matches of the World League cause they decided to focus on their preparation for the OG and started to practise with the new ball rather than the current official one.