Team Portugal with high hopes for upcoming European Silver League

Hugo Silva has invited 16 players to join the preparation stage for the women’s European Silver League 2023. Team Portugal will start their work on May 8 at the Pavilhão Municipal de Santo Tirso. In the European Silver League, Team Portugal will contest their Pool B matches against Montenegro, Georgia, and the Faroe Islands. Pool A, on the other hand, features the national teams of Austria, Estonia, Latvia, and North Macedonia.

“These athletes aim to consolidate and stabilise a group where there are no excuses of any kind for wanting to represent Portugal at the highest level. We need responsible, committed, and ambitious athletes to take the leap that is missing in women’s Volleyball. This group includes the best Portuguese players, who will allow us to fight for the European Silver League final and, even more importantly, prepare for the future in a stable way, so that we can pursue our aim to qualify for the next European Championship in 2024. We will do everything to get the most out of the Silver League and thus take another step forward in our evolution,” Silva said.

The roster includes the following players:

Setters: Eliana Durao (SL Benfica), Ana Carmo Figueiras (Sporting CP)
Outside Hitters: Margarida Maia (Castelo da Maia GC), Ana Afonso, Marlene Pereira (GC Vilacondense), Inês Pereira (PV2014/AV Col. Efanor), Alice Clemente (SL Benfica), Martha Hurst (CV Sayre Mayser Gran Canaria/ESP)
Opposite Hitters: Maria Reis Lopes (Leixoes SC), Julia Kavalenka (Anthea Vicenza Volley/ITA)
Middle Blockers: Kátia Oliveira (Clube Kairos), Sara Fernandes (Dumiense FC), Aline Rodrigues, Amanda Cavalcanti (Sporting CP)
Liberos: Joana Resende (AJM/FC Porto), Matilde Calado Rodrigues (SL Benfica)

The 2023 edition of the Silver League features two pools and the top two sides from each pool qualify for the Final Four, scheduled for June 24-25 in Graz, Austria. If the organisers (Austria) finish third or fourth in their pool, the two pool winners and the best runner-up will qualify for the Final Four together with Austria. The winners of the competition secure the right to contest the 2024 edition of the European Golden League.

The 2023 edition of the Silver League features two pools and the top two sides from each pool qualify for the Final Four, scheduled for June 24-25 in Graz, Austria. If the organisers (Austria) finish third or fourth in their pool, the two pool winners and the best runner-up will qualify for the Final Four together with Austria. The winners of the competition secure the right to contest the 2024 edition of the European Golden League.

In 2022, Sweden lifted the European Silver League trophy and secured their participation in the 2023 Golden League by beating Portugal 3-0 (25-19, 25-21, and 25-16) at the Idrottshallen in Lund, in a single winner-takes-all final match. Team Portugal head reached the final with a record of six wins (in matches with Estonia, Slovenia, Sweden, and Luxembourg) and only two losses (to Sweden and Slovenia). In 2021, Portugal qualified for the Final Four of the competition after winning Pool B with five victories and only one defeat. Portugal eventually finished the competition in fourth place.

Action in this year’s Silver League begins on May 27 and runs until June 25.