25/06/2019 22:00
Slovenia set sights on Silver #EuroLeagueW crown after home victory
CEV Volleyball European Silver League 2019
Mislinja, Slovenia, June 25, 2019. On Tuesday night, Slovenia edged Romania 3-1 (25-19, 22-25, 25-21, 25-22) in the first round of the CEV Volleyball European Silver League Finals and as a result, they are now two sets away from seizing the title with a competitive advantage ahead of the re-match due to take place on Friday in Alexandria, Romania. The eventual winners of the competition will move to the Golden League in 2020.
The clash between Slovenia and Romania proved to be a true final match. Both teams started the game with great determination and especially with solid blocking. Still, the Slovenians proved to be the better team, quite easily closing the opening set at 25-19 in their favour.
However, the Romanians kept their fighting spirit and took advantage of Slovenia’s errors, eventually claiming the second set (25-22). The visitors kept their momentum in the beginning of the next one, but the home team regained their focus, improved the level of their performance and secured an 18-14 lead. Romania’s head coach Luciano Pedullà tried to break the rhythm of the hosts with a timeout, but Slovenia emerged victorious (25-21).
The full house in Mislinja helped the Slovenians catch a flying start to the fourth set. Lana Ščuka and Tina Grudina were almost unstoppable in attack leading their team to a four-point gap. Afterwards, the always-fighting Romanians managed to close in at 11-11. Slovenia edged ahead again only towards the end of the set (23-22) but they scored another two points in a row and claimed an important advantage before the second leg in Romania.
Alessandro Chiappini, head coach of Slovenia: “I am very satisfied with today’s performance of my team. It was an extremely tough match. Romania is a good team that proved themselves with strong serving. I am proud of the attitude that my girls showed and I am very proud of this important victory, but we have one more match in front of us. We know it will not be easy, now we know their level and we will have to prepare as good as we can for the return match.”
Lana Ščuka, player of Slovenia: “Our advantage was already in the fact that we played in front of our fans. We are aware that it is going to be much harder in Romania. Each player in our team gave her contribution in today’s victory and we need to do the same on Friday.”
Adelina Budai-Ungureanu, player of Romania: “I think we are on the same level. I am a little bit disappointed with the result since I know we can do better but the defeat motivates us for the next match. I really wish that we will deliver our best performance in Romania. Our goal is to win the finals.”
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