07/06/2019 20:00
Battle for pool leadership heats up in Silver European League
CEV Volleyball European Silver League 2019
Luxembourg, June 7, 2019. The competition continues this weekend in the CEV Volleyball European Silver League 2019 as well, with a full set of eight matches. Austria and Greece fight, though not squaring off against each other, for the leadership in the men’s Pool A, while Romania chase a fourth consecutive victory in Pool B. The women’s national team of Israel will be trying to achieve the same feat in Pool A – as much as Slovenia will do in Pool B. The eventual pool winners will be playing home and away matches to determine the Silver League gold medallists – who will move up to the Golden League in 2020.
MEN
Pool A
Austria vs. Bosnia and Herzegovina
• The men’s national team of Austria start the second half of their European Silver League campaign on home soil. Coach Michael Warm’s squad face Bosnia and Herzegovina at Multiversum Schwechat on Sunday.
• Austria vie for their third victory in the competition after edging Greece at home and securing an away victory at Bosnia and Herzegovina before losing clearly to Greece last weekend in Piraeus.
• This is a rematch of last week’s game in Kakanj, which saw Austria victorious in straight sets.
• Austria and Greece currently share the top spot in Pool A. Both teams have the same win-loss record (2-1) and points (6), but Greece has an advantage in terms of sets won and lost (7-4 versus 6-4).
• Bosnia and Herzegovina recorded their first ever victory in this competition on Sunday by beating Hungary 3-1. This historic win should give the young team of head coach Edin Baković an extra boost of confidence.
Michael Warm, head coach of Austria: “We were not consistent enough in the rematch against Greece. We did not play until the end and I was not satisfied with this. Reception and attack were not good. We have to do much better on Sunday. We are the favourites but we know we are going to play an opponent with some interesting, technically skilled players.”
Paul Buchegger, player of Austria: “The obvious goal is to win 3-0. They will definitely play better than they did at home but if we play on our level, I am confident that we will win. I look forward to the match at Multiversum sports hall in Schwechat and I am sure that this will be an exciting game.”
Alexander Berger, player of Austria (pictured above): “I did not travel to Bosnia and Herzegovina for the previous match, but I obviously followed it. Our clear goal for the match on Sunday is to take maximum three points. As a wish for Father’s Day, which we celebrate on Sunday, I would like to have a full, noisy house in Schwechat.” Berger and his wife Mirna Jukic, a former elite swimmer, could welcome their second child back on May 23. Anton Menner is the second ‘papa’ on the roster of the Austrian national team.
Hungary vs. Greece
• It is a Volleyball day at the new Kaposvár Arena! A Volleyball double-gender event opens the new Arena of the city of Kaposvár with two European League fixtures.
• Greece have won all three of their previous clashes against Hungary, losing two sets only along the way.
• With a victory against the pool leaders, Hungary could keep their chance alive to finish in first place in Pool A.
Bogdan Tanase, head coach of Hungary: “A few people thought that we could win a set last time against Greece so I hope that we could win the match this time on home soil. We will definitely need our supporters to do the job, but the most important thing is to show them our strengths.”
Pool B
Georgia vs. Denmark
• Denmark currently sit in second place in Pool B with a record of two wins and one loss.
• Georgia, on the other hand, are at the bottom of the charts with three losses in as many matches.
• In their first appearance in the Silver League, Georgia have been able to win one set this far – doing so in the home match with their neighbours from Azerbaijan.
Romania vs. Azerbaijan
• Romania have a perfect record of three wins in as many matches they have played in Pool B.
• Earlier this season, they beat Azerbaijan 3-1 in Baku and they will be hoping to achieve a second victory, this time at home in Alexandria.
• Romania have dropped one set only in the competition this far – that one they lost to Azerbaijan in the first round.
WOMEN
Pool A
Romania vs. Israel
• Israel lead the way in Pool A with three wins in as many matches.
• They beat Romania 3-2 last week in Haifa at the end of a truly dramatic match.
• Romania have a record of one win and one loss in the competition, as they are yet to play their second round match with Cyprus due to the participation of the Cypriot team in the Games of the Small States of Europe.
Georgia vs. Cyprus
• Cyprus beat Georgia 3-0 last Tuesday in Nicosia to claim their first, historic victory in the Silver European League.
• Cyprus are making their maiden appearance in the European League. They recently finished second at the Games of the Small States of Europe held in Montenegro.
• Georgia are yet to win a set in the competition and they have lost three matches in a row thus far.
Pool B
Estonia vs. Greece
• Estonia have only two points in Pool B and they have no chance to fight for the first place and make it to the Finals.
• Therefore, head coach Andrei Ojamets is planning to give more playing time for the players who so far have been more on the sides.
• Greece have six points and sit in second place in the pool, with Slovenia leading with nine. Portugal are fourth with one point.
• In the last game against Slovenia, there was over 800 spectators in Tartu and the team is expecting the same amount of fans coming for the matchup with Greece.
Andrei Ojamets, head coach of Estonia: “We have been working on defence mostly this last week, as this was our biggest problem in the last match against Slovenia. Now we take these games as an important preparation for the European Championship in August. I will make some changes in the line-ups but nothing too drastic, as I need to see everyone’s ability to perform. Everyone is eager to show what they are capable of and I am hoping to show our awesome fans that we will fight until the last ball.”
Portugal vs. Slovenia
• This matchup features the top and bottom teams – Slovenia and Portugal, respectively – in Pool B.
• Slovenia are the only team in the women’s Silver League yet to lose a set.
• The last time the two teams met – in a World Championship qualifier held in Viana do Castelo in 2017 – Slovenia claimed a 3-0 victory.
• There will be some interesting duels featuring Júlia Kavalenka (7th in the ranking) and Lana Scuka (8th) in attack, Tina Grudina (6th) and Marta Hurst (8th) from the service line, Joana Resende (1st) and Anita Sobocan (11th) in reception. Sasa Planinsec (1st), Júlia Kavalenka (3rd) and Aline Rodrigues (4th) are among the best blockers of the competition.
Aline Rodrigues, player of Portugal: “Against Greece, especially in the first set, we showed that we are capable of playing at a high level and that makes the team grow and want more! It is a process and we are improving from match to match and showing a little more of what we are able to accomplish. This game with Slovenia, leader of the group, will be no different.”
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