01/06/2018 22:00
Latvia and Croatia vie for fifth straight victory in Silver #EuroLeagueM
2018 CEV Volleyball Silver European League - Men
Luxembourg, June 1, 2018. Latvia and Croatia will be vying this weekend for their fifth consecutive victory in the pool stage of the 2018 CEV Volleyball Silver European League – Men to virtually book their spot in the Final Four due to take place in Skopje (MKD) on June 15-16, 2018. Austria are chasing a ticket to Skopje as well and they will be trying to make a step forward in their quest when hosting Kosovo for their last home match in Pool A. After losing to Latvia in the first round of the competition, the Austrians have swept three matches in a row as their team chemistry seems to be developing and improving at a very fast pace.
Pool A
Former Y.R. of Macedonia vs. Latvia
• Latvia have claimed four wins in a row in Pool A this far.
• The Former Y.R. of Macedonia are the silver medal winners from the 2015, 2016 and 2017 editions of the European League. They will be hosting this year’s Final Four in Skopje.
• Some ten days ago, Latvia beat the Former Y.R. of Macedonia 3-0 on home soil in Daugavpils.
• Nikola Gjorgiev (MKD) is the second best scorer of the competition this far on 78 points, while Edvarts Buivids has been the most prolific Latvian player with a personal tally of 49.
Austria vs. Kosovo
• The Austrian men’s national team has claimed three of their four matches in the 2018 CEV Silver European League this far and sit in second place in Pool B. On Saturday, the next opponents in Enns will be Kosovo, who are still winless at this stage of the competition.
• After two 3-1 victories over the Former Y.R. of Macedonia, the Austrians got an extra boost of self-confidence.
• Silver European League top scorer (80 points) Paul Buchegger and local matador in Enns, since his hometown Pichling is only 10 minutes from the sports hall, is extra motivated: “If we take three points on Saturday, our chances to make it to the Finals look good. We think from game to game, but we always give our best, including next Wednesday’s last match with Latvia.”
Since the first loss to Latvia, the Austrian team have swept three wins in a row, which is also due to the better communication with the setter Maximilian Thaller. Buchegger: “It always takes its time until everything works if you have not played together for some time. But we have worked on it with head coach Michael Warm, analysed videos, and now the timing is perfect.”
Pool B
Croatia vs. Belarus
• Croatia share with Pool A leaders Latvia the same perfect record in the competition – with four wins in as many matches.
• Croatia have only dropped one set so far – and this happened when they played Belarus away from home in Minsk.
• Croatia’s opposite hitter Leo Andric is the third best scorer of the competition thus far, with a personal haul of 70 points in four matches.
• Andric spent the last season in Italy with Sir Colussi Sicoma PERUGIA, eventually completing a clean sweep of all domestic competitions and winning the bronze medal from the CEV Champions League.
Albania vs. Hungary
• Hungary have lost four matches in a row in the competition, with Albania’s only victory resulting from the clash between these two teams in Budapest.
• While playing away, Albania recorded a 3-1 victory over Hungary.
• Albania’s Anton Qafarena is the fourth best scorer in the competition this far on 54 points.
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