Reigning champions Germany lived up to their top billing by getting the measure of their most feared rivals Cambodia yesterday in four well contested sets in their 2011 WOVD Standing Volleyball World Cup group match. With a final score of 20-25, 25-21, 21-17, 25-23, the German team took a clear lead at the top of the group stage table with six points.

The home side got off to a flying start at the indoor hall of Olympic Stadium, landing some superb smashes and allowing no liberties at the net to one of the best spikers in business, Robert Kampczyk. The holders were so hopelessly tied down that Cambodia steadily built on an early 7-2 lead to inflict Germany’s first loss of a set in the tournament so far.

Spikers Ou Phalla and Sang Veasna did a splendid job in the second set, but the 2007 Bronze medallists found it hard to keep the Germans quiet for long. The three-time World Cup winners caught up with the Kingdom’s men at 13-all, and kept going to level the match.

As assurance crept into the German ranks, it was seemingly draining out of Cambodia. An error strewn start to the third set saw the hosts concede a lot of ground, allowing Germany a comfortable ride.

Needing just a set to close out the tie, the visitors worked their way to a 20-18 lead in front of a captivated crowd. Cambodia did well to rally back to 23-all before the Germans reeled off the next two points to clinch victory.

“We started very well but started making a lot of errors and that slowed us down. We lost the momentum,” Cambodia’s fitness and motivation coach Willie Guillory told The Post after the match. “We will rise again and hopefully turn the tables on Germany in the grand final.”

In yesterday’s opening fixture, Sri Lanka proved far too strong for first timers Laos, conceding of total of just 11 points during their straight sets victory. Slovakia then beat Kazakhstan by three sets to one in the day’s second match.

Today’s World Cup schedule

• Kazakhstan v Sri Lanka – 10am
• Germany v Laos– 2:30pm
• Slovakia v Cambodia – 6pm