In a match featuring the only two teams with an impeccable record in the competition, Russia edged Slovenia 3-2 in Tirana as #EuroVolleyU17M action resumed in Tirana with the next-to-last round of pool matches. In Pool II, newcomers Austria – making their first appearance in the final stage of the championship – caused another sensation as they came back from two sets down to edge Italy 3-2 after earlier in the tournament they had routed Serbia in three sets.
Miha Okorn scored 20 points for Slovenia in a big effort against Russia.
Russia and Slovenia are the firm leaders of Pool I and on Wednesday, they locked horns to determine which team would stay undefeated and remain at the top of the group. Russia claimed twice the lead in the match and Slovenia fought back twice as well, before Russia eventually emerged victorious at the end of a dramatic tiebreak (15-13). Vasily Kapranov scored 30 times for the winners as Miha Okorn registered 20 for Slovenia in an effort that confirmed their ability to compete for the highest prize in Tirana.
Turkey needed 50 minutes only to rout hosts Albania, with the home team scoring 27 points across three sets, as Belgium recorded a 3-1 victory over Latvia, another rookie in the competition – just as Austria – to leapfrog the Baltic team in third place on the same win-loss record (2-2) but on 6 points vs. 5 for the Latvians.
A moment to remember as Austria edge Italy at the tiebreak in Tirana
If Russia and Slovenia look like the dominant forces in Pool I, everything remains to play for on Thursday in Pool II with as many as five teams still in contention for a spot in the semis. Poland moved up to the top of the charts following their 3-1 victory over their neighbours from the Czech Republic before Austria caused the sensation of the day through their come-from-behind victory over Italy. The Azzurrini had to make do without Alessandro Bristot, who has returned home due to a family loss – with his teammates wearing black armbands as a result to show sympathy and solidarity to the young outside hitter.
Serbia, despite wasting a 2-0 lead in the match, beat Bulgaria 3-2 to have a chance at reaching the semis, with Bulgaria, Italy, Austria and Serbia all on two wins and two losses – so the final set of matches on Thursday will be decisive to determine who will be fighting for the medals later this week.
“Of course, I am overjoyed that we won such a difficult game. We were 2-0 down – and it looked like Italy would win 3-0. However, in the third set, we started playing to our full potential, and then we got into a flow while Italy started to wobble. The boys were amazing! They played great and deservedly won.”
Nina Sawatzki
Head coach of Austria
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CEV – European Volleyball
OZS – Volleyball Slovenia
ÖVV – Volleyball Austria
