Slovenia and Russia extend winning streak at #EuroVolleyU17M

Slovenia and Russia top Pool I at #EuroVolleyU17M in Tirana after completion of the third round of group matches with an immaculate record of three wins. Bulgaria, Italy and Poland share the same win-loss (2-1) record in a highly competitive Pool II. The 12 teams competing in Albania’s capital city will now enjoy a rest day before the tournament resumes on Wednesday.

Russia and Slovenia needed four sets to add a third victory to their tally in Pool I. The Russian powerhouse dropped a set in their matchup with Turkey and had to fight very hard also in the fourth and eventually last set before they celebrated a 3-1 win (25-17, 25-16, 22-25, 27-25). Vasily Kapranov set the tempo for Russia with 22 points, well supported by Gleb Stefanovich and Ivan Skvortsov who finished on 18 and 17, respectively. Slovenia, on the other hand, dropped a 2-0 lead in their match with Belgium where the young Red Dragons stormed to a landslide 25-14 in set 3 before Slovenia regrouped to celebrate their third win, with Luka Marovt and Miha Okorn recording an impressive 22 and 20 points.

In a match between two teams that are making their maiden appearance at the U17 continental championship, Latvia beat hosts Albania 3-0 (25-16, 25-14, 25-22) to celebrate their second hurrah in the competition.  

Over to Pool II, Italy, Poland and Bulgaria beat the Czech Republic, Serbia and Austria all by the same score (3-1) to improve their win-loss record to 2-1. Despite losing the first set to the Czechs, Italy looked strong in the remainder of the match and Poland looked very solid as well in an eagerly anticipated duel with Serbia where Mateusz Janczyk out-scored Luka Stankovic by one point (23 vs. 22). Bulgaria conceded a set to an Austrian side that had started the tournament with a sensational victory over Serbia to secure the provisional top spot in the pool with seven points from their two wins and one loss. Austria put up a real fight as they won the second set but could not capitalise on an 18-14 advantage in the third one.