European contingent for Peru is completed by Poland, Russia, Slovakia and Serbia

2011 FIVB Junior World Championship - European Qualification

Luxembourg, May 22, 2011. Poland, Russia and Slovakia all qualified for the 2011 FIVB Women’s Junior World Championship slated for this July in Peru as they finished their respective campaigns with a perfect record to top the final standings in their groups. They join 2010 European champion Italy and Belgium – the first ranked team of Pool B that was completed yesterday in Novalja – to represent Europe there in South America along with Serbia. The 2010 European silver medalists were defeated 2:3 by Poland in their last game in Zrenjanin but finally got a ticket to Lima as the best among the second ranked teams across all Pools. In Bardejov the home girls of Slovakia tested out the hearts of their fans as they finally made it to the Worlds by beating Turkey at the end of an incredible five setter that finished at 19-17 for the home heroines.
Pool A in Zrenjanin (SRB)
Portugal vs. Montenegro 1:3 (11-25, 20-25, 25-20, 14-25)
In the first match of the final day in Pool A, Montenegro got their first victory beating Portugal 3:1 (25-11, 25-20, 20-25, 25-14) after 90 minutes of play. The Montenegrin girls opened the match in great fashion letting their rivals score only 11 points in the first set. Left-handed Danijela Dzakovic was extraordinary and the Portuguese defense couldn’t find any cure for her powerful smash.
In the second set it was slightly harder for Montenegro to deal with the Portuguese girls who started playing better. However, they only managed to score 20 points as Montenegro increased the lead to 2:0 in sets. In the third set, the score was equally balanced all the way until the finish, when the Montenegrin girls, making too many mistakes, let their rivals get away and cut the distance by half. However, it was all from the Portuguese side that lost the fourth set in the same manner as the first one. This was a historical first victory for the Montenegrin team in the European qualifications, regardless of junior or youth category.
“This was the first ever victory for us in the qualifications and it tastes so good. We played very well the first two sets, and the fourth one. In the third set we were not focused, but it is normal after you play two sets at such a high level. What can I say, I am delighted” said head coach Natasa Markovic. Danijela Dzakovic topped quite obviously the charts with 23 points followed by Nikoleta Perovic with 16. Joana Silva and Mariana Alexandre were the best scorers for Portugal with 11 points apiece.

Serbia vs. Poland 2:3 (20-25, 25-16, 21-25, 25-22, 12-15)
In the second match of the final day Poland edged the reigning European silver medalists of Serbia 3:2 in a thrilling match after 121 minutes of play and in front of 850 spectators at the “Crystal Hall of Sports” in Zrenjanin. Poland qualified as the first ranked team, while Serbia also managed to get a ticket for Peru and appear for the fourth time at the World Championship after being the best second ranked team among all qualification pools.
The beginning of the match was pretty bumpy on both sides. Serbia went to the first technical time-out leading 8:3, but Poland managed to turn the score around by the second break (16:14). After that, the lead got even bigger (20:17, 23:19). The Polish team used the second set point out of 5 they had and went up 1:0 in sets.
The start of the second set was similar to the first one. Serbia went to the first technical time-out leading by 5 points thanks to excellent serves of Mina Tomic. This time, the interval between the two technical time-outs wasn’t fatal for the home side as they managed to preserve the lead (16:12). After that, the home team extended the margin to 19:13, and calmly finished the second set in their favor 25-16.
In the third set, Serbia was leading 8:5 and 11:6, but the Polish girls did not let go and gradually cut down the distance, first to 8:11, then to 11:13. The tie was inevitable at 13, as Poland improved their game significantly. Ratko Pavlicevic, head coach of Serbia, was forced to call a time-out. But the break didn’t help the Serbian girls, as Poland took over the lead by the second technical time-out at 16:15. The Polish lead got bigger at 18:16, but Serbia managed to turn the score around and get in front at 19:18 and 21:19. However, Poland incredibly managed to score 6 consecutive points for the final 25-21 and provisional 2:1 in sets.
In the fourth set, Serbia was leading 2:0, and then 5:3, but the Polish team reached the tie at 5. At the first technical time-out, the hosts were up 8:6, and at the second one 16:11. The lead got even bigger when Serbia went up 19:13 and 22:15. Emilia Mucha’s serving for Poland brought 5 consecutive points and announced a dramatic finish that no one had expected. After the time-out called by the Serbian coach the home team scored two times and reached four set points. Serbia used the third one and tied the result at 2:2 in sets, which meant the qualification of both teams for the 2011 FIVB Women’s Junior World Championship.
The fifth set was all about mistakes and upside downs for both teams. However, Poland was better and earned a 4-point advantage at the first technical time-out. After the break, Serbia managed to reach the tie after a 4 point run (10:10). But Poland was more focused and went up 12:10, and 14:11, which was enough to score a well deserved victory.
“The two best teams qualified. I have to be satisfied, but there is a slight bitterness because of this loss. We are not at the highest level at the moment, but we will work on that. The most important thing right now is that we are travelling to Peru” said Ratko Pavlicevic.
“Our hard work paid off. It was a difficult match for us and I am happy that we won. Both teams deserved to qualify, that’s for sure” added Poland’s mentor Grzegorz Kosatka.
The most efficient player in the Serbian team was Ana Bjelica with 16 points, followed by Mina Tomic, Maja Savic and Ljubica Kecman, all with 13. For the Polish side, the best scorer was Zuzana Czyznielewska with 20 points, followed by Emilia Mucha with 17.

Pool C in Moscow (RUS)
Russia qualified this afternoon for the 2011 FIVB Women’s Junior World Championship scheduled for this coming July in Peru after completing a marvelous home campaign at the “Luch” sports centre in Moscow with another 3:0 win, this time to outclass Israel (25-12, 25-19, 25-7). After easily claiming the opening set, Russia lined up some back up players and there Israel had a slim chance to re-open the game, going up 12:6 in the second set, before Russia clipped a 7:0 positive break to level the score and sail comfortably to the final 25-19. Russia totally dominated the scene in set 3 with a massive 25-7 to complete the tournament with a perfect record of 12 sets won and 0 lost in four games. Valeriya Safonova top scored for the home side this afternoon (15) while Karen Gluck clipped 12 for Israel.

Earlier in the afternoon Germany defeated Denmark in straight sets (25-14, 27-25, 25-15) to keep alive the chances to make it to Peru as the best among all second ranked teams across the four groups. Germany totally dominated the opening set whereas Denmark missed even two chances to bring home set 2; two points scored by team captain Anika Boin and a Danish error contributed the final 27-25 for the Germans. A bit shocked, the Danes were no longer able to put up real resistance in set 3 and Germany went quickly for the final 3:0. Anika Boin top scored for Germany with 12 points while Julie Guldager Jensen scored 11 for Denmark.

Pool D in Bardejov (SVK)
France vs. Bulgaria 3:0 (25-21, 25-21, 25-15) In the first match of the final day in Bardejov France defeated Bulgaria in straight sets to finish the tournament in third place with four points. The French girls were simply better all the way through, they served and blocked very well. The young Bulgarians fought bravely but it was not enough and they finished the tournament with zero points and without any set won. Clémentine Druenne from France was the best scorer of the game with 18 points while Simona Dimitrova got 12 for Bulgaria.

Slovakia vs. Turkey 3:2 (25-19, 18-25, 25-20, 14-25, 19-17) The real highlight of the tournament was there tonight as the hosts of Slovakia played against Turkey for a place to compete in the 2011 FIVB World Championship. Both teams knew that a win would have guaranteed a ticket to Peru. Slovakia started the match very well and claimed the first set 25-19. Almost 600 hundred fans in Bardejov were there and the atmosphere was thrilling.
Slovakia wasted a 12:6 lead in the second set and Turkey got the tie (25-18). Both teams showed great Volleyball and the score after four sets stood at 2:2. Slovakia and Turkey played their third tie-break in less than a year. Last year, at the 2010 CEV Junior European Championship in Serbia, they had crossed their ways twice. Slovakia had had the upper hand in the group stage and Turkey beat the Slovaks in five sets in the match for place 5 and 6. Slovakia started the fifth set very well and went up 8:3. Turkey came back and closed the score 12:11. Then Slovakia had three match points, but Turkey fought back from 14:11 to 14:15 and was only one point from a travel to Peru.
Turkish star Ceren Kestirengoz had the match in her own hands, but sent the ball out; then Slovak captain Karin Palgutova hit an ace and the home team had another match point. Finally the nice match finished with a block of Tatiana Crkonova and the celebrations started, with Turkish tears on one side of the net and a Slovakian dance on the other. “We are very happy. It was a great match. I think both teams deserved to qualify for the Worlds Championship” said the head coach of team Slovakia Marek Rojko. Slovak middle-blocker Simona Kosova was the best scorer with 21 points, Turkish opposite hitter Ceren Kestirengoz collected 20. “We are happy that we write history, because we are the only Slovak team that has qualified to all top tournaments from the youth up to the junior category. The match was extremely difficult, but we are very happy that we finally won. We want to thank our fans, they created a great atmosphere here in Bardejov” said Slovak captain Karin Palgutova.