12/09/2015 15:22
Turkey and Hungary feel ready for re-match in European League Finals
2015 CEV Volleyball European League - Women
Izmir, Turkey, September 12, 2015. Only 24 hours from the re-match with Hungary which coincides with the very last act of the 2015 CEV Volleyball European League – Women, the Turkish Volleyball Federation organised a press conference in Izmir. The city on the shores of the Aegean Sea will be playing host on Sunday to the ‘grand finale’ of the competition with Turkey hoping to use the home advantage to fight their way back after losing in three sets the first round contested on Thursday in Érd. Turkey’s players will also be attempting to retain the crown they won last year when they beat Germany in the finals.
The press conference was moderated by Mr Sezgin Eren, Corporate Communication and Marketing Director of the Turkish Volleyball Federation, and was attended by the coaches and captains of both teams. There is a lot of anticipation and excitement about the upcoming match and the journalists could get the latest news from both the Turkish and Hungarian camps.
Turkey’s mentor Ismail Yengil said: “We beat Hungary when we hosted them for the League Round in Ankara. They are a team that always keeps the ball in play and they perform extremely well. The last match we played and eventually lost was a difficult one. They had the home advantage but even though we lost 0:3, all sets were extremely close and tight through to the end. The team is now focussed on the re-match and we have been preparing as thoroughly as possible for tomorrow.”
“We are well prepared for tomorrow’s match,” echoed him Turkey’s team captain Meryem Boz. “We want to celebrate a victory before our own crowd.”
Hungary’s coach Jan De Brandt said: “I know we have a tough match coming up tomorrow. The last game we played with Turkey was a difficult one since all sets were close. We have the advantage that if we lose, we still stand a chance with the golden set.”
Hungary’s team captain Rita Liliom said: “It is going to be a difficult match tomorrow. We have been working very hard in order to be prepared to overcome all obstacles we will find along the way.”
Turkey’s Volleyball family are hoping to celebrate yet another title after earlier this summer they won gold at the Baku 2015 European Games. They have been quite successful also in age-group competitions winning silver at the Women’s U23 World Championship they hosted in Ankara and another – historic – silver medal at the FIVB Men’s U23 World Championship recently held in Dubai. As for Hungary, the European League title would be their first major success in decades and would come only two weeks away from their first participation in a Final Round of the CEV Volleyball European Championship in 28 years.
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