Cameroon volleyball team loses to Venezuela

Wroclaw, Poland, September 2, 2014 – Following a great match, Venezuela scored their first points in FIVB Men’s World Championship Poland 2014 as they defeated Cameroon 3-1 (25-22, 25-21, 31-33, 25-14) in a pool A match at Centennial Hall.

Captain Kervin Piñeerua topped Venezuela with 26 points followed by the trio of Fredy Cedeño, Maximo Montoya and Jesus Chourio with 12, 11 and 10 points, respectively. Jean Patrice Ndaki and Nathan Wounembaina finished with 25 and 19 points for Cameroon.

Key facts

• First victory of Venezuela since November 18, 2006 against Iran 3-1

• Cameroon made 32 errors to Venezuela's 21

• Piñerua now has 43 points in two matches

The winners held an 11-5 advantage in the aces charts with Jose Carrasco and Montoya leading the way with 4 and 3, respectively.

Cameroon started the match with a two-point lead after a great spike and block by Sem Dolegombai and Nathan Wounembaina respectively. However, Venezuela quickly caught their opponents as Jose Carrasco served an ace and Maximo Antonio Montoya Martinez produced a spectacular spike so that they left the court leading 8-6.

Following the break, Montoya sparked the South American side 12-7 ahead.

Cameroon were looking for their chance with strong spikes by Jean Patrice Ndaki Mboulet and ace by Wounembaina, but that was not enough to stop Venezuela, who controlled the game for the whole set.

Venezuela played wonderful volleyball and outstanding kills by Fredy Cedeno were a key to success for Vincezno Nacci’s team. The Cameroonians were trying to defend with an effective block, but the captain Kervin Pinerua finished the set for Venezuela 25-22.

The second part of the match was under Venezuela’s control. Jose Carrasco spiked with great strength, while Cameroon did not know how to finish their moves. The African team had serious problems with reception and that is why Venezuela were leading 8-4 before the technical time out.

Service errors and poor attack efficiency were complicating Cameroon’s situation and nerves started to show. Head coach Peter Nonnenbroich tried to calm down his team, but Cameroon lost the next four points.

When Venezuela scored their twentieth point, Cameroon managed to catch up two points following hard spikes by Ndaki Mboulet and Wounembaina. Nacci’s team lost concentration for a moment as the Cameroonians gained five points in a row. However Venezuela’s lead was too wide, so following Pinerua’s spike they won 25-21.

Cameroon started the third set with great strength as they made a perfect triple block with Ndaki Mboulet spiking effectively. In addition, they forced Venezuela’s players to make serve and spike errors.

That gave the African team a lead of 8-6 at the technical time out. Following the break, the teams were exchanging points so that, for a half of the set, the scoreboard showed no difference between the sides. Wounembaina’s ace changed the result for Cameroon’s benefit as they regained a two-point lead.

That forced Venezuela to play hard which caused several opponent errors. The end of the set was dramatic for both of teams as two challenges were called. Both Cameroon and Venezuela had difficulties with finishing and following a few moves, Cameroon managed to win the set 33-31 and you could see the huge delight on the players’ faces.

Again, Cameroon were trying to control things in the fourth, mainly because of Ndaki Mboulet’s attitude. They also managed to surprise the opponents with the quick kill by Georges Kari Adeke, but before the technical time out Venezuela led 8-5.

The break had clearly motivated them as they were carefully using Cameroon’s mistakes and systematically gaining points so that for the next time-out they had a seven-point lead. The African team were frustrated as they made an increasing amount of errors.

Venezuela easily beat Cameroon in the final set thanks to captain Pinerua and Montoya Martine who finished with a spike to end the set at 25-14.