Czech women volleyball players are still 100% qualified for the European Championship 2023. After Sunday’s victory in Montenegro, they already had a certain participation in the final tournament, but they did not stop and today in Tabor they easily beat Finland 3: 0 after 25:19 sets, 25:18 and 25:21.
Czech volleyball players | Photo: Václav Pancer | Source: ČTK
Greek coach Yiannis Athanasopoulos did not risk any chances, and in the last home game in the second qualifying group, he used a proven starting lineup in Czech colours. Only Veronika Dostalova started in the libero instead of Daniela Degrinova. At first, the Finns upset the Czech attackers with a good defense in the net and led 14:11. But it was all on their part. The local players put in a team effort to win 18:16 and finish the first set.
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In the second set, the Finns could not keep up with the fast Czech groups and the host team jumped to 13: 7. The opponents came close to them, but the final returned to the Czech team again. He continued his impressive performance in the third set as well.
Coach Athanasopoulos appreciated how the Czech volleyball players managed the challenging programme. “After the victory in Montenegro, we didn’t sleep and traveled until noon the next day. We didn’t get enough rest, so it’s very difficult to get the girls to focus on the next match. Especially when we already know we qualified. But the girls managed it, they were very tough.” Focus since the first point, although the Finns had a really good game,” he said in a press release.
Revenge of EuroBasket
The atmosphere of the match was stormy, thanks to a thousand spectators, among whom were a large number of the visiting team’s fans. “Because the Finns had fans there, something could always be heard and the atmosphere was noisy. The Finns came from basketball because they play the European Championships in Prague, and they added to the atmosphere of the match.”
While the Finnish basketball player beat the Czechs 98:88 on Tuesday, the women’s revenge came under the high net. “It’s an important win that we appreciate a lot. The Finns didn’t give us that for free, they pressed the serve and the defense, so it was really tough”, added Coliciani, who performed well especially in the second set and scored six points in total. The most productive player in the match was top scorer Michaela Melnikova with nineteen points.
After five qualifying duels, the leading Czechs had 15 full points and one losing set. In the end, Iceland awaits him on Sunday, an outsider country in Group B.
Women’s Volleyball Championship Qualifiers in Tabor:
Group B:
Czech Finland 3: 0 (19, 18, 21)
Referee: Wiener (Turkey), Hujer (Real). Time: 80 minutes Spectators: 1000.
Lineup and points CR: Kossányiová 10, Koulisiani 6, Orvošová 12, Mlejnková 19, imáňová 3, Valková 4, libero Dostálova – Pavlíková. Coach: Athanasopulos.
Most points in Finland: Kokkonen 12, Laakkonen 9, Korhonen 7.
