| Lille, France, July 8, 2018 - Maxim Mikhaylov's virtuoso display helped Russia seal the FIVB Men's Volleyball Nations League gold medal as they surged past hosts France in three sets (25-22, 25-20, 25-23) with one of the finest volleyball performances in recent years.
The inaugural VNL has been an exhilarating competition with Russia and France the best two sides across the past two months. But it was Russia who broke French hearts with a brilliant all-court display as they won their first world-level title since claiming FIVB Volleyball World League gold in 2013. France survived an epic USA fightback to win their semifinal in five sets, but it looked like those exploits had caught up with them as they were outclassed by a supremely powerful Russian outfit, who looked unstoppable when in full flow.
Russia defeated Brazil in their semifinal match in arguably the best VNL performance of the campaign, but this world-class display surpassed that as a multi-talented French outfit simply had no answer to this Russian juggernaut. Mikhaylov was breathtaking in all facets of his game, from his ace serves to his outrageous power and precision from spike range as he finished with a game-high 19 points. Egor Kliuka (10 points) was also colossal while Dmitriy Muserskiy (12 points) was a rock in the middle. Five Russian players compiled at least two block points as the French were shut out. From defence to attack, Russia were simply too good.
France - who incredibly have never won a world-level title outside of the World League, although they won that competition in two of the last three editions - did have some impressive performers with Kevin Le Roux, in particular, scoring two block points on his way to a personal haul of eight. Earvin Ngapeth may have top-scored with 16 points, but he was repeatedly snuffed out early on as France toiled. Jean Patry and Thibault Rossard produced moments of brilliance, but usual big hitter Stephen Boyer had an evening to forget.
France came into this final on the back of four straight victories over Russia, including a three-set win in the preliminary round - albeit against a weakened Russian side - but they couldn't live with the visitors in the early exchanges of the opening set. Kliuka was the star man with some impeccable serving as a slick Russia team began to dominate. Their block defence - arguably the best in the world - was too good with the French wide men Boyer and Ngapeth struggling to find a way through. Kliuka's block made it 10-5 while Mikhaylov was dominating out wide. The French grew into the set with Le Goff and Le Roux leading an impressive fightback but two huge Mikhaylov points steadied the ship and wrapped up the set, 25-22. First blood to Russia. France took some momentum into the second set but that was almost immediately countered by another wonderful sequence of play from Sergey Shliapnikov's men. Dmitry Volkov illustrated his range of blocks and spikes and a Mikhaylov ace put the European champions 10-4 in front. Russia were on a roll and France looked dead and buried as Muserskiy gave his side a huge lead at 15-7. But the hosts dragged themselves back from obscurity to take 13 of the next 19 points to whittle Russia's lead down to 21-20, with Patry and Nicolas Le Goff providing the inspiration. But in the face of adversity, Russia remained ice cool and four straight points - including two vital Kliuka spikes and a Dmitry Kovalev ace serve on set point - handed them the set (25-20) as they moved closer to the gold medal.
France needed a response and they certainly upped the ante in the third set. Le Roux put in a mighty block and then a spike as back-to-back points made it 6-4 to the hosts. Their performance levels didn't relent and Rossard delivered some huge spikes to put the French 16-13 ahead at the second technical timeout - and on course to take the match into a 4th set. But Russia are a relentless machine and back they came to level the scores at 20-20 with a monster Mikhaylov block. France eeked out another two-point lead, but from 22-20 down, this was all about the visitors. An outrageous Muserskiy ace bamboozled the hosts before an unforced Boyer error handed Shliapnikov's men match point. And they only needed one chance as Kovalev produced a block of superlatives to deliver the gold medal to Russia amidst jubilant scenes - with the home crowd stunned. France's non-World League hoodoo goes on; Russia's five-year wait for a major title is over.
It's going to be Urban Engerpeth with the serve.
Oh, a serve for Engerpeth. What a start for him.
He struggled with his serve a lot over the course of these three matches.
He wasn't happy admonishing himself during these games, but he's right on the money to start with.
Might get on to it.
Luke has got on to his serve and he's come up with an ace for Russia.
He's finished, starting this match the way he finished the last.
He's an ace, almost straight to the libero. The libero would be disqualified.
Blather from Legoff.
Brzeski was taking a step already to the opposite there.
Legoff, all he really needed to do was touch it and that's all he did.
Oh, great swing from Brzeski.
Welcome to the game.
Oh, Brzeski, what a swing that was.
Yes, Brzeski's definitely awake and ready to play this game.
Had a little bit of movement along the net.
Legoff had to respect him the whole way.
It's a good block from Legoff, but Brzeski actually has a big part of the court to aim for.
And he made no mistake.
Into the technical timeout, Russia.
Volkov once more.
Massive block from Russia. That's what they do so well. That's where they're so dangerous.
It's been a slightly nervous start from Boye.
Great block from Brzeski.
And from Kliuka.
France have called a timeout.
Legoff with the serve.
Massive swing from Kliuka.
Legoff's gone in Volkov's direction that time.
Without having to worry about the pass, Kliuka can focus on his approach, get his back behind him.
No mistake with that one from Edgar Panthers. He drills it cross-court.
You don't see the Liberos receiving too many float serves.
A lot of times it's a risk.
That serve from Kovalev comes in late.
Kovalev just loves them.
Looks like it's going to be too far.
He doesn't even think about sending. He just thinks, I can get a point here.
Interesting watching Leroux going down to come back up further away from the pier for France and their mood.
Leroux now with the serve.
Oh yes, what a block from Legoff.
The crowd are loving this now.
Legoff stayed behind the centre there. He was ready for that play.
And his hands are...
Great ball in.
And just fantastic again from Mikhailov.
It's almost expected of him to put the ball away every time he has a swing.
Such an efficient spiker.
When he has the play form from the reception,
he's always going to be a danger to score.
Good work from Engerpeth.
And Legoff was quick just to drag him back into the group then.
After he hit that ball.
Yeah, he's starting to get a little bit fired up. He wants to take the win of course.
Boye is on fire now.
Leszczynski gave out his best serve.
Engerpeth nailed it.
Boye and Antonio are into a rhythm now.
Serve, set point Russia.
Massive swing from Tilly to save the first set point.
The Russians took a risk.
Leszczynski was already going to block Boye leaving Mikhailov against two spikers.
And he made the wrong choice.
Boye with the serve.
It's a good serve.
But it's Mikhailov. Reliable old Mikhailov gets blocked out.
And it's Russia who take the set 25-22.
They lead 1-0.
There was a moment of confusion there.
Kovalev was coming from outside the court.
Volkov took responsibility to make the serve.
He put it exactly in the perfect spot.
Mikhailov had enough width that he couldn't aim it off Tilly's left hand.
He ends the set with eight points.
Once again.
Great swing from Boye.
There seems to be hardly any line to work with.
That's exactly where they were.
Great block.
Kravenikov did really well to keep that ball on his side of the net.
That's just classic Russian volleyball.
Massive serve and then try and put up a triple block on the outside hitter.
The set's pretty good from that position.
Tilly's going for the middle blocker's left hand.
Almost going to his advantage but Volkov's in good position to change direction of that backhand.
A serve again for Mikhailov.
Confusion for France's receive unit as to who was going to take that one.
Rossard is in there for Tilly.
He looked like he took a backward step.
Lovely ball.
Shoot to the middle.
Rossard finally got off.
That's the first good reception France have had in this set.
The big tweak is in this phase of the test.
He has to jump away loosely.
Wonderful.
Kovalev's back row.
He just left it.
In fact he wasn't back row, he was in the front row.
Everybody's worried.
Everybody's looking for him to do that.
Engapet looks to Leroux.
That time Kovalev is back court so he can't go up and block it.
He can't attack it.
And Engapet puts it away.
Third good action from Patrice Mikhailov.
Zesky with the serve.
Good ball in by Gravennikov.
Actually not going to miss from there.
Montpellier player having a good game.
Kanga's run away from France here.
No way!
I'm just saying.
I'm sat right opposite the centre line with you.
That was no way.
That should have come back from there.
How did that just happen?
Wow.
The young Patrice, too young to know that that shot was impossible.
So he just went and made it.
Oh wow.
It's just the most ridiculous of monster blocks.
To bring up set point.
Zesky's over the net.
Kovalev once more.
It's an ace serve of Kovalev.
It goes quiet here in Lille.
Russia take the set 25-20.
And they lead 2-0 in this gold medal match.
Kovalev has a really good flight serve.
Apart from being good in his own right.
It's a great contrast to the rest of the guys on his side who are smashing the ball.
France receiving with two Rossards out of the reception.
Doing everything they can to rouse the crowd to even greater heights.
There's three chances of this.
The third one finds the gap between the second and the third blocker.
Great pick up.
Well watched by Beranek.
Oh my goodness.
What a dig by Kovalev.
And then it was just all too much for France as that one popped up right in front of Mazersky.
I don't even know which action in that rally to talk about.
There were six great actions.
Volkov chose the unusual solution.
I don't know that Mazersky was ready.
But he certainly finished it off.
You're absolutely right.
There were so many incredible actions.
I couldn't even get my words out in time.
What a big serve.
But it's well dealt with by Kliuka.
That allows Russia to run the middle.
Brilliant by Tonyuti.
And by Khabyshev.
Floor of La Rue has put him down.
Engepest getting the crowd going.
He doesn't need to do that.
The crowd are definitely on France's side here.
Great ball from La Rue.
Weighted.
Made perfect position.
Perfect technique.
We haven't talked about Mazersky for about a set and a half.
He's back in the action in the front row.
He's a big guy but he has a great arm swing.
Fantastic serve from France.
Where they put that ball.
Tonyuti got the ball really close to the sideline.
For Kliuka in a lot of trouble.
When he wants to receive it with his hands.
From that angle it would be too far inside.
Fantastic from Rossard.
Ball that he did everything he could to keep that ball on his side.
Quality air ball.
He was on to serve.
What a hit from Mazersky.
It's blocked in.
Engepest didn't get it off the block and away.
Engepest likes to turn it on the line if he sees a space.
Kailov just reached out a little bit and closed that space.
Kailov is put down.
And Engepest gets his revenge after being blocked.
The point before the last one.
Exactly the same play in reverse.
Engepest just reached out a little bit to close the line
when Kailov thought it was open.
The game within the game is 1-1.
France then two up with this gold medal point.
Oh it's a huge block by Komolin.
And Russia have taken gold here in France.
They have beaten the hosts.
Three sets to nothing.
25-23 in the third.
A magnificent victory.
And France are stunned.
France were leading this whole set.
They had a good chance.
So a perfect block from Kovalev.
Rossard was only ever going to hit that one line.
Kovalev held his nerve.
It was a point for him.
And it's a championship for Russia.
And fully deserved.
Today's performance was just incredible volleyball.
They gave the French really no chance in the end.
Although the French played really well for long catches.
As I said they had a chance to win that set.
They were leading for most of it.
