Germany, stunned by Slovakia in four sets Thursday in a Group B preliminary, gained an upper-hand with powerful spikes and steady blocking, winning 25-13, 25-16, 25-10.

Slovakia was never seriously in trouble, trouncing Switzerland 25-23, 25-15, 25-23.

Slovakia topped the group with three wins against no loss while Germany ranked second with two wins against one loss.

A total of 27 teams are grouped into eight in the round-robin preliminary and top two teams from each group qualify for top 16, in which the teams are grouped into two, with top four teams from each group advancing to the quarter-finals.

Hosts China, ranked 11th in the last games two years ago, had a marathon struggle to overcome Latvia with scores of 25-12, 25-19 and 25-17 in two hours and 10 minutes.

With the win, China led the group standings with three straight wins against no loss while Latvia second with two wins and one loss.

The Chinese coach Yang Liqun said his team had just overcome one obstacle, saying "our goal is to enter the top eight".

The best result that the Chinese men's volleyball obtained is runners-up in 1987 Universiade.

In a Group A match, Australia had to do their best by beating Rwanda with a score of 25-20, 26-28, 25-19 and 26-24.

Favorites Japan, up-setted in full sets by Turkey Thursday, overwhelmed Iran 25-17, 25-19, 21-25, 25-17 in a Group C match.

The above three teams thus having identical records of one win against one defeats. But Japan and Turkey secured the top two places because of better set ratios.

Another hot favorite France topped Group D as it got two straight wins against no loss. South Korea ranked second by clinching the first victory over winless Chinese Taipei 25-23, 25- 15, 25-18.

Favorites Russia entered the second round by topping Group E, saw off Canada 25-18, 25-17, 31-33, 25-14. Canada ranked second with two wins against one loss. Mexico ousted Peru 25-14, 25-16, 25-17 in another Group E match.

United States finished first in Group F by holding off Ukraine 25-20, 25-23, 25-20. Ukraine placed second with one win and one loss.

In Group G, Yugoslavia breezed past South Africa 25-22, 25-18, 25-17 to finish first with two wins against no loss, while Denmark second with one win and one loss.

In Group H, the Netherlands fought with Lebanon for the second place of the group. The scores are 25-19, 25-7, 25-20 in favor of the Netherlands. Brazil led the group with two wins against no loss.

(Xinhua News Agency 08/25/2001)