Italy conclude Pool I play with clean sheet, Poland take fourth semifinal spot

Italy continued their winning streak at the 2013 CEV Youth Volleyball European Championship – Girls by beating the Czech Republic in straight sets on Thursday, finishing their Pool I campaign with a 5-0 win-loss record. Poland take the second semifinal spot from Pool I, while Slovenia (straight-set win versus Montenegro) and Greece (3:1 triumph over Poland) made it to the classification games for fifth to eighth ranks. The Czech Republic and host Montenegro are out of contention.

Italy continued their winning streak at the 2013 CEV Youth Volleyball European Championship – Girls by beating the Czech Republic in straight sets on Thursday, finishing their Pool I campaign with a 5-0 win-loss record. Poland take the second semifinal spot from Pool I, while Slovenia (straight-set win versus Montenegro) and Greece (3:1 triumph over Poland) made it to the classification games for fifth to eighth ranks. The Czech Republic and host Montenegro are out of contention.

Greece vs. Poland 3:1 (27-25, 28-26, 9-25, 25-21)
Greece did their homework by beating Poland in their last Pool I match on Thursday afternoon. It was a roller-coaster duel with many comebacks on both sides. Today’s win secure Greece a spot in the top eight of the 2013 CEV Youth Volleyball European Championship – Girls. 
Best scorer of today’s first Pool I game in Bar, Montenegro, was Greek captain Olga Strantzali with 23 kills, including five service winners and one block. 
Poland quickly established a 16-12 advantage in the opening set. Greece coach Dimitrios Floros was forced to replace several players after Poland pulled away to a comfortable 22-15. Floros’ plan was apparently the right strategy as the Greeks slowly but steadily came back from behind to draw level at 24-24. Ioanna Gkountimenko and Alexandra Psoma added two block kills to complete the Polish misery at 27-25. 
The upcoming Greek stars were still hot in the second set, racing to an 8-6 and 16-9 lead. The Polish had lost their self-confidence from the beginning of the match. With Psoma and captain Strantzali consistent in attacking, Greece stormed to a 21-13 lead while the Poles struggled with service reception. Like on the other side in the first set – however – the South Europeans couldn’t pull through. Poland regained momentum but missed their chance to seize a set ball at 25-24. Strantzali fired back from right side before an out-of-court smash from Malwina Smarzek offered the Greeks a very hard-earned 2:0 set lead. 
The Poles came back aggressively in the third set and never looked back. The two sides battled more heatedly in the fourth frame as the scoring difference never exceeded three points until the second technical break. Strantzali led her team with blistering missiles through the Polish defense. Anthi Vasilantonaki added a rocket from right side to seal the important victory for Greece.

Greece head coach Dimitrios Floros: “I would like to congratulate my team for winning this game. Whatever happens in the following matches, I am very pleased with the result.”
Greece captain Olga Strantzali: “I am very happy. We played very well and we deserve to be among the eight best teams.”
Poland captain Paulina Baldyga: “I really do not know what to say. We played a very bad game and therefore I am really sad.”
Poland head coach Grzegorz Kosatka: “I am so disappointed with what we had shown that I really do not have anything to say.”

Italy vs. The Czech Republic 3:0 (25-16, 25-19, 25-17)

Slovenia vs. Montenegro 3:0 (25-7, 25-9, 25-9)