An impressive crowd of almost eight thousand spectators in Ljubljana’s Stožice Arena saw CEV EuroVolley 2019 Men co-hosts Slovenia celebrating a 3-1 (25-18, 26-24, 24-26, 25-15) win against Finland on Saturday evening. Tine Urnaut was very efficient in attack and scored a match total of 21 points. “I think we have never played in front of so many people – really amazing. After two victories in Pool C we are confident and we showed that we can play consistently”, said Slovenia’s libero Jani Kovacic. On Thursday, the MEVZA members and 2015 European Championship silver medallists started their EuroVolley campaign with a straight sets victory over Belarus. Therefore, Slovenia’s squad is on the best way to clinch an eighth-finals birth. On Sunday evening Urnaut and co. will be challenged by 2019 European Golden League winners Turkey.
Slovakia and Austria, another two MEVZA members, clashed in Brussel. Peter Michalovic led his team to a 3-1 (19-25, 25-20, 25-21, 25-15) victory. Slovakia’s 29-year-old opposite showed an outstanding performance, peaking in 26 points. Austria’s head coach Michael Warm: “We had a very good start, but from the second set on, we dropped our level and we weren’t able to control Michalovic anymore!” After two days of competition in Pool B Slovakia’s side tops the table alongside co-hosts Belgium, who are both on five points. Austria’s players find themselves at the bottom of the standings. Slovakia is looking forward to meet Serbia on Sunday, while Warm’s squad is preparing for Monday’s match against Germany.
MEVZA member Czech Republic has contest one match in Pool D so far. On Friday, the three-times champions (1948, 1955 and 1958 – all as Czechoslovakia) suffered a 1-3 (21-25, 19-25, 25-19, 22-25) defeat against the Ukrainian’s team in Rotterdam. The Czechs will face Estonia on Sunday evening.
EuroVolley 2019 is one of a kind
The 2019 EuroVolley edition is running from September 12 to 29 in four countries for the first time, namely France (Montpellier, Nantes and Paris), Slovenia (Ljubljana), the Netherlands (Amsterdam, Rotterdam and Apeldoorn) and Belgium (Brussels and Antwerp). The number of participating teams has increased from 16 to 24. Each country hosts 15 pool matches, two eighth-finals and a quarter-final, while Slovenia will also have one semi-final. The second semi-final, the bronze and gold medal matches will take place at the AccorHotels Arena in Paris.
Match Schedule, Results, Pool Standings
MEVZA League opening weekend just three weeks away
While Europe’s best national teams are aiming for honours 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 4-7 while the women’s season opener is due to follow a week later, October 11-13.
Women’s Middle European League Teams 2019-20
UOK BANJALUKA Volley (BIH)
ŽOK Bimal Jedinstvo BRCKO (BIH)
HAOK Mladost ZAGREB (CRO)
OK KAŠTELA (CRO)
Calcit Volley KAMNIK (SLO)
GEN-I Volley (SLO)
Nova KBM Branik MARIBOR (SLO)
Men’s Middle European League Teams 2019-20
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)
PHOTO © CEV
SPORTLIVE
