Co-hosts Slovenia advanced to the CEV EuroVolley 2019 final this late Thusday evening! Cheered on by an enthusiastic home crowd of almost 11.500 spectators in Ljubljana’s Stozice Arena, head coach Alberto Giuliani’s squad delivered another sensational performance and celebrated an outstanding 3-1 (25-23, 24-26, 25-22, 25-23) win over world champions Poland. Wilfredo Leon Venero topped the scorers on a total of 22 points, Tine Urnaut reached 18 on the Slovenian side. Three days before the hosts had already knocking off defending champions and favourites Russia in four thrilling sets.
PHOTO © CEV
“The opponent played a really good match tonight. We gave it our 100 percent, but it was not enough tonight. No doubt, the crowd was a great support to the hosts. It’s not that it hindered us, but clearly gave wings to Slovenia” , the Polish opposite spiker Maciej Muzaj explained.
The MEVZA members and 2015 European Championship silver medallists Slovenia will face Serbia in the final encounter in the magnificent AccorHotels Arena in Paris on Sunday. The european champions from Vienna in 2011 emerged victorious over co-hosts France in front of over 12,500 spectators, winning by a score of 3-2 (23-25, 25-23, 25-21, 17-25, 15-7).
On Saturday the French side suffered another defeat in the hands of Poland, losing the bronze medal match 0-3 (24-26, 22-25, 21-25). “I am very pleased with how we played, we were far behind in the first set but came back. It’s always nice to collect medals, you never forget medals”, Poland’s head coach Vital Heynen said.
MEVZA League opening just one week away
While Europe’s best national teams are battling for medals at the European Championship, Volleyball fans can already look forward to an exciting edition of the MEVZA League, that will feature eight men’s and seven women’s elite teams representing four countries. The men’s kick-off will be taking place on October 5 while the women’s season opener is due to follow a week later, October 12.
CEV EuroVolley Men 2019
Semifinals
26.09.: Slovenia (MEVZA) vs. Poland 3-1 (25-23, 24-26, 25-22, 25-23)
27.09.: Serbia vs. France 3-2 (23-25, 25-23, 25-21, 17-25, 15-7)
Bronze Medal Match
28.09.: Poland vs. France 3-0 (26-24, 25-22, 25-21)
Gold Medal Match
29.09., 17.30: Slovenia vs. Serbia (AccorHotels Arena/Paris)
Match Schedule, Results, Pool Standings
Middle European League Women 2019-20
Teams
UOK BANJALUKA Volley (BIH)
ZOK Bimal Jedinstvo BRCKO (BIH)
HAOK Mladost ZAGREB (CRO)
OK KAŠTELA (CRO)
Calcit Volley KAMNIK (SLO)
GEN-I Volley (SLO)
Nova KBM Branik MARIBOR (SLO)
Schedule
12.10., 17:00: HAOK Mladost ZAGREB (CRO) vs. HOK KASTELA (CRO)
12.10., 18:00: Nova KBM Branik MARIBOR (SLO) vs. Calcit Volley KAMNIK (SLO)
12.10., 19:00: ZOK Bimal-Jedinstvo BRCKO (BIH) vs. UOK Banjaluka Volley BANJA LUKA (BIH)
Middle European League Men 2019-20
Teams
SK Posojilnica AICH/DOB (AUT)
Union Raiffeisen WALDVIERTEL (AUT)
OK Mladost BRCKO (BIH)
HAOK Mladost ZAGREB (CRO)
OK Mladost Ribola KAŠTELA (CRO)
ACH Volley LJUBLJANA (SLO)
Calcit Volley KAMNIK (SLO)
OK MARIBOR (SLO)
Schedule
05.10., 18:00: HAOK Mladost ZAGREB (CRO) vs. OK Mladost Ribola KASTELA (CRO)
05.10., 18:00: ACH Volley LJUBLJANA (SLO) vs. Calcit Volley KAMNIK (SLO)
05.10., 19:00: SK Posojilnica AICH/DOB (AUT) vs. Union Raiffeisen WALDVIERTEL (AUT)
PHOTO © CEV
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