Volleyball players started the European Championships with a sensation. Coach Jiří Novák’s charges showed a courageous performance in front of the Ostrava audience, defeating the Slovenian silver defender 3: 1 in sets 26:24, 25:18, 14:25 and 25:19 and taking a step towards advancing to the round of 16.
Four teams from the six-member Group B will continue. Czechs after Slovenia will encounter Belarus on Saturday, followed by Bulgaria, Montenegro and Italy. At the last Euro, the Czechs finished the year before last in Antwerp in the round of 16 after losing to the later Serb champions. Two years earlier, they reached the quarterfinals and were seventh.
Volleyball players started the European Championships played in Ostrava with Slovenia even twenty years ago and then the roles were reversed. The Czechs won 3: 1 in the role of the favorite and finally took 4th place. This time the Slovenians belong to the top, but the choice of coach Jiří Novák surprised them. The Czechs showed excellent defense in the field, as announced before the tournament, and played boldly. The recorder Janouch surprised in the first set, attacked mostly with smashers or blocker Zajíček and omitted the universal Hadrava.
“It was decided that we just played good volleyball,” coach Novák smiled. “We started well, the boys were aroused, they went aggressively and the spectators helped them. What to say, we played well,” he praised himself.
Great playing Zajíček with a direct point and ace won the team lead 18:16. The opponent still leveled at 22:22, but the volleyball players in the end turned the second setball after the Slovenian mistake. In the second set, the Czechs did not slow down with the help of the audience, he continued to play ‘reluctantly’, at risk and served well. They jumped into the lead at 15:11 and Janouch already called Hadrava to the points, which increased to 20:14. After the subsequent successful block of Sedláček, the hall rioted. The startled Slovenians made mistakes and argued with the judges. The Czechs focused on the game and Vašina turned the setball.
“We entered the match with aggression, which we did not do well in the preparation, so I’m glad it worked out now,” said Galabov, emphasizing that the team played above standard in defense. Some Slovenians had a hard time dealing with it. “They seemed to dislike it,” Galabov said.
Only in the third set did the quality of the Slovenes show. The Czechs started to buy inaccuracies, they did not succeed as before, and they lost 10:15 quickly. The coach sent Finger and the second recorder Bartůňek into play, but the opponent could not be stopped. The difference was eventually eleven points.
“We had no choice but to clear our heads, there was no point in messing with it, we made a lot of mistakes,” said Novák. “Hats off as we got up,” he added to the fourth set, which the Czechs flew into as in the first two. Sedláček drove him with an ace and Vašina increased it to 6: 2 with a direct point. The volleyball players gained a five-point lead, which they maintained until the end. Galabov was successful in the attack this time. In the end, they changed the first matchword after the discarded Slovenes ruined the income.
“It is definitely a surprise, we defeated one of the favorites on the European throne. We are very happy for that. We managed to go into it militarily and that we can win,” said smasher Vašina. “Kuba Janouch gave great balloons, had a great distribution of records. He deserves a lot of thanks and the fans were great. We hope that the same or better support will be in the next matches.”
An important match awaits volleyball players against Belarus. “We have to sit on our asses and prepare humbly, because that will be key. If we succeed, we can think further,” Novák said.
In the year when Czech Volleyball celebrates 100 years, the Czech Republic is one of the four host countries of the Euro, which will be attended by 24 teams. The remaining basic groups are played in Estonia, Finland and Poland, where the championship will culminate.
European Volleyball Championship – Group B in Ostrava:
CR – Slovenia 3: 1 (24, 18, -14, 19)
Judges: Cambré (Belg.), Simonovič (SRB). Time: 102 min. Attendance: 2425.
Lineup and points of the Czech Republic: Vašina 13, Zajíček 11, Hadrava 13, Galabov 14, Sedláček 6, Janouch 1, libero Moník – Finger, Licek, A. Bartoš, Polák, Bartůněk. Coach: Jiří Novák.
Most Slovenian points: Štern 14, Urnaut, Cebulj and Pajenk all 11.
– .
