Samokov Final Four line-up finalized

Luxembourg, Luxembourg, August 4, 2014.  The three European teams participating in Group 3 of the 2014 FIVB Volleyball World Grand Prix finished the league round in the top three places of the table and will be joined by fourth-placed Kazakhstan for the Final Four in Samokov, Bulgaria on August 16 and 17.

The Czech Republic ended up on top of the table with a perfect record of 18 points in six games after shutting out Kazakhstan by 3:0 (25-15, 25-20, 25-21) in the last match of the home tournament in Brno.  “It was not a hard match, but we were very focused.  We now have big expectations for the Final Four," Czech Republic’s player Lucie Smutna stated after the end of the game.

The second place in the table was at stake in the last match of the other pool this past weekend.  In an all-European clash Bulgaria defeated host Croatia by 3:1 (25-27, 26-24, 25-18, 25-19) and also completed its league round matches unbeaten, but at two points behind the Czechs.  The Croatians finished third with 12 points from four wins and two losses.  “The game was great and everything went according to our expectations.  Croatia surprised us with some good serves in the first set, but then we showed our strengths.  It will be interesting to meet the Croatian team again at the Final Four,” Bulgarian player Dobriana Rabadzhieva commented after the match.  Croatian player Senna Usic Jogunica said:  “We achieved our main objective, we clinched a place at the Final Four.  It was not easy to play without our injured captain Sanja Popovic and with Maja Poljak still not in full form.  I am sure we will play against Bulgaria again in Samokov and that is our chance for revenge.”

The last fourth spot in the Samokov finals was the only one still up for grabs on Sunday with Kazakhstan and Kenya having a shot at it.  The African team, however, could not take advantage of Kazakhstan’s 0:3 loss in Brno and, losing a point after 3:2 against Australia, ended up behind the Asian team in the final standings on set ratio.

Click here for more info on the 2014 FIVB Volleyball World Grand Prix.