The U20 MEVZA tournament’s third day was a thrilling affair, especially for the Croatian national teams. Both the women’s and men’s teams achieved remarkable success, securing their places in the semi-finals. The women’s team clinched a decisive 3-0 victory against Hungary, while the men’s team matched this feat with a 3-0 win over Luxembourg.
Men’s coach Ratko Peris expressed his satisfaction with the team’s performance. “Securing three consecutive wins and finishing top of our group was our primary goal, and we’ve achieved it. We’re now looking forward to the semi-finals against either Austria or Slovenia at 4 pm tomorrow. Today, we were able to give some rest to the players who had been active in the first two games. This also allowed us to bring in players who had less game time but showed excellent levels of aggression and focus. The team is fully committed, both mentally and physically, to the tournament, and we’re optimistic about continuing our winning streak,” he remarked.
Ivica Radocaj, the women’s coach, also shared his thoughts. “Today’s performance was a significant improvement from yesterday, truly befitting a team entering the semi-finals. The team adhered strictly to the game plan and tactics we had set. Our excellent serving disrupted Hungary’s play at the net, our defensive blocking was on point, and our improved ball distribution made attacking much smoother. This led to a comfortable victory. When we momentarily lost rhythm, the players off the bench brought a positive impulse, swinging the match in our favor and ensuring a 3-0 scoreline that secured our group’s top spot. We’re now eagerly awaiting our opponent from the second group in the semi-finals,” he stated.
The anticipation builds as both semi-final matches are scheduled for tomorrow, promising more exciting volleyball action.
