South Korea fell to Russia in women's volleyball at the Rio de Janeiro Olympics on Monday, unable to contain the opponent's relentless attack in the late stage.

After a seesaw battle early, Russia came out on top 3-1 (25-23, 23-25, 25-23, 25-14) at Maracanazinho for its second consecutive victory in Pool A.

South Korea, which defeated Japan to open the Olympics, dropped to 1-1. It will next face Argentina on Wednesday at the same venue.

Neither team led by more than two points in the opening set until Russia went up 23-20, capitalizing on South Korean turnovers.

South Korea cut the deficit to 23-22, but down 24-23, Kim Yeon-koung served one into the net to hand the set to Russia.




It was much the same story in the second set, again with neither side able to build a lead larger than two points until late.

At 18-18, Russia scored two straight points on South Korean turnovers. South Korea got a point back, but Nataliya Goncharova's spike and back-to-back aces by Tatiana Kosheleva put Russia ahead 23-19.

South Korea refused to go away and reeled off four consecutive points on Russian faults.

Then Yang Hyo-jin's ace gave South Korea a 24-23 lead, and Lee Jae-yeong's spike completed the comeback as South Korea took the set 25-23.

In another tight affair in the third set, the teams were locked at 21-21. Then Russia charged ahead with three straight points, with Anastasia Shlyakhovaya leading the way.

One point from taking the set, Russia let South Korea creep up to 24-23, before Goncharova closed out the set with a spike.

Russia came alive in the fourth set. Leading 10-6, Russia scored six unanswered points, a run that included three consecutive aces by Irina Voronkova.

Shlyakhovaya and Kosheleva also stepped up on the offense. Down 24-11, South Korea scored three straight points, but Voronkova ended any hope of a comeback with the final spike.

All-world attacker Kim Yeon-koung led South Korea with 20 points, while Goncharova and Kosheleva each had 22 points.

By Yonhap News