Slovenia edge hosts Croatia at MEVZA qualifier to punch ticket to #EuroVolleyU17W
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This past week, the iconic Kresimir Cosic sports hall in Zadar, Croatia, played host to the MEVZA U17 Women’s Championship – which counted as zonal qualifier for this year’s #EuroVolleyU17W as well, whose Final Round is due to take place later this coming July in the Czech Republic. As their peers and friends did at the U18 men’s event held in Maribor, Team Slovenia emerged as the winners of the MEVZA event in Zadar as well, thus securing their participation in the final stage of the European Championship.
The event in Zadar featured seven teams, split into two groups. The hosts from Croatia together with Czech Republic, Hungary and Israel composed Pool A, with Austria, Slovakia and Slovenia contesting Pool B.
Croatia recorded three wins in a row in Pool A, the closest being against Czech Republic in five sets, as they beat Hungary and Israel in four and three sets, respectively. Hungary claimed second place and advanced to the semi-final as the Czech Republic, hosts of this year’s #EuroVolleyU17W, could not progress any further. The Czech Republic and Israel continued their journey in the classification matches for 5th place, joined by Austria as the third ranked from Pool B. Although it was only Austria who managed to win a set against Pool A winners Slovenia, Slovakia still ended up being stronger in the direct match-up, winning in straight sets to qualify for the semis.
Croatia and Slovenia, both winners of their respective pools, demonstrated their power in the semi-finals winning in straight sets against Slovakia and Hungary to advance to the title-deciding match.
In the closest match of the whole tournament, Croatia took an early lead by winning the first set. However, Slovenia fought back and took the next two, one with a dominant display and the next by the smallest possible margin. Croatia levelled the match after taking the fourth set. Still having the momentum from the previous set, Croatia went up 3-0 in the decisive fifth set, before Slovenia called a time-out and turned the score to 8-3 in their favour. In a game to only 15 points, Slovenia did not allow for any more comebacks, securing a 3-2 (21-25, 25-12, 26-24, 17-25, 15-10) win and with it, they punched their ticket to #EuroVolleyU17W as well.
Slovenia’s team captain Maša Pucelj received the award for the Most Valuable Player of the tournament.
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