Luxembourg, June 16, 2017. Denmark and Ukraine improved their win-loss record to 3-1 as the 2017 edition of the CEV Volleyball European League – Men resumed on Friday with four matches across two pools. Denmark and Ukraine easily shut out Hungary and Israel, respectively to cement their leadership in Pool B. The competition in Pool A got underway in Skopje with Albania claiming a dramatic five-set match with Sweden before 2015 and 2016 European League silver medallists, the Former Y.R. of Macedonia delighted 1,000 home fans with a comprehensive 3-0 victory over outsiders Azerbaijan.

Pool A in Skopje (MKD)

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Pool B in Nyíregyháza (HUN)

Israel vs. Ukraine

Once again, as they had done last week at home, Ukraine beat Israel 3-0 (25-16, 25-13, 25-15). Only the first set was a close affair up to 8-all, before Oleh Plotnytskyi helped Ukraine edge ahead and score five points in a row with his great serves. Ukraine extended their advantage as the match progressed, thus claiming a comfortable 25-16 win. Israel called their first time-out in the second set after Ukraine rallied to an 11-6 advantage but to no avail, as their opponents continued to set the pace of the game (18-8) before doubling their lead in the match (25-13). Ukraine opened the third set with an impressive 8-1 run and their lead grew to 11 points at the second technical time-out, before they celebrated a compelling 25-15 win. “Our main aim is to secure our participation in the Final Four and with this result we got closer to it,” said Ukraine coach Ugis Krastins after the match.

Hungary vs. Denmark

The match started with a small ceremony and the Hungarian Volleyball Association honouring Denmark head coach Mikael Trolle who on Friday celebrated his birthday. However, the real present came afterwards as his team rallied to a 3-0 victory (25-23, 25-23, 25-21) in their matchup with hosts Hungary. Denmark caught the better start to the match and claimed a close first set; the second followed a similar plot with Arpad Baroti and Cameron Keen bringing more energy to Hungary’s game but at the end of another close race, Denmark emerged victorious at 25-23. Denmark started strongly to the third set as well but Hungary were able to edge ahead and keep their lead until the second technical time-out before relinquishing it as Denmark levelled the score at 18-all and eventually finished the match in three sets. “Hungary is a very good team and we had a difficult match. I am really happy that we won in the end,” Trolle said after the game.

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