24/05/2016 23:11
Cyprus and Faroe Islands through to SCD Finals, fight for progression to second stage of World Champs qualification
2018 FIVB Women's World Championship / 2017 CEV Volleyball European Championship - Small Countries Division
Tórshavn, Faroe Islands, May 24, 2016. Cyprus and the Faroe Islands further cemented their status of leading forces in the tournament being contested in Tórshavn as they recorded their second straight victory in the competition, sweeping Ireland and Liechtenstein aside in three sets. Cyprus and the Faroe Islands have not dropped a set in the competition so far and on Wednesday will clash for the top spot in the pool and also for the only ticket at stake to make it to the second stage of the qualification process to the 2018 FIVB Women’s World Championship. Both teams, however, have already secured their participation in the final stage of the 2017 CEV Volleyball European Championship – Small Countries Division.
Cyprus vs. Ireland 3-0 (25-12, 25-9, 25-12)
Ireland could not pose any real threat to Cyprus when the two teams met in Tórshavn on Tuesday afternoon.
Cyprus proved much too strong for the Irish team, and the only thing their opponents could do was to limit the difference. Yet Cyprus won comfortably 3-0, claiming each of the three sets at a canter (25-12, 25-9, 25-12).
The result means that Cyprus are through to the next stage of the 2018 FIVB Women’s World Championship qualification process as well as to the final stage of the 2017 CEV Volleyball European Championship – Small Countries Division. The only thing left to decide is whether they will take the top spot in the group or finish second.
That will be finally decided on Wednesday, when Cyprus meet the hosts in the final match of the tournament in the Faroe Islands.
Liechtenstein vs. Faroe Islands 0-3 (15-25, 15-25, 21-25)
Even though the opposition was much tougher on Tuesday than the night before, the Faroese national team didn’t have any problems edging Liechtenstein in the late game of the second competition day in Tórshavn.
The Faroe Islands looked a bit nervous at the beginning of the match, but managed to regroup as the score stood at 10-10 in the first set. After that they didn’t look back anymore and comfortably claimed the opening set 25-15.
The picture was exactly the same in the second set, the score as well, but in the third set it changed a bit. The home team got off to a better start, and stayed in front until the end. Liechtenstein kept on fighting, but had to bow to the stronger host, ending up losing the set 25-21 and the game 3-0.
This means that the Faroe Islands play the group ‘final’ on Wednesday night, when they meet Cyprus in the last game of the pool. Both teams have two victories, and are through to the next stage of the Small Countries competition, but it is yet to be decided who will play in the second stage of the World Championship qualification process since only the eventual winners of the group will achieve this feat, whilst both the first and second-placed from the single round robin move on to the SCD Finals scheduled for next year and due to take place in Luxembourg.
This much anticipated match starts at 18:30 local time. Check out the official website of the Faroese Volleyball Association (www.fbf.fo) for a link to the live streaming.
Click here for more info including detailed stats of the matches
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