Poland advance to playoff round

The Czech Republic booked their playoff round ticket with a hard earned five-set win over Bulgaria (14-25, 25-20, 29-31, 25-19, and 15-11). Defending champions Serbia finished on top of Pool D, thus advancing to the quarterfinals. The team of head coach Zoran Terzic proved too strong for Poland (25-18, 25-18, 22-25, 25-21).

The Czech Republic booked their playoff round ticket with a hard earned five-set win over Bulgaria (14-25, 25-20, 29-31, 25-19, and 15-11). Defending champions Serbia finished on top of Pool D, thus advancing to the quarterfinals. The team of head coach Zoran Terzic proved too strong for Poland (25-18, 25-18, 22-25, 25-21).

Championship favourite Serbia beat a good Polish team in four sets (25-18, 25-18, 22-25, and 25-21) to finish first in Pool D. In front of 1.622 spectators, Serbia played very concentrated and thus advanced to the quarterfinals. The best player for Serbia was opposite Jovana Brakocevic scoring 24 points including 11 break points.

Serbia started the first set with enormous determination leading quickly 5-2 against a nervous Polish team. Zoran Terzic' ladies increased their lead to five points until the second technical time-out displaying tremendous organization against a struggling Polish team (11-16). Serbia never let down and took the first set after a five-point run in the end 25-18. Serbian key player Jovana Brakocevic stood out with 6 points.

In the beginning of the second set, Serbia continued to dominate the game with their powerful wing-spikers. However, Poland now showed why Serbian coach Terzic had great respect for the Polish squad prior to the game. Poland acted with more assertiveness and were able to close the gap to one point (6-7). Serbia managed to hold off Poland within a gap of four points by concentrated and forceful play. In the end, Poland did not find an answer to overcome the Serbian pressure (18-25). 

Serbia kept control of the match carrying a two-point lead throughout the first half of the third set (10-12). However, Poland, carried by hundreds of fans, showed great team spirit and managed to grab the lead at 14-13. Poland now played their best Volleyball and extended the lead to four points at 21-17. Under standing ovations by the Polish crowd, the Poles finally won the set in heroic fashion (25-22). Top player for Poland was Kinga Kasprzak with 7 points moving her team to another level at that stage of the match.

Serbia took charge again at the beginning of set four before the Polish girls turned tables at the first technical timeout (8-7). Serbia reacted quickly using a five-point run to retake the lead at 15-10. Serbia used all their experience to pull through (25-21) and thus finishing the preliminary round on top of Pool D.

Poland captain Katarzyna Ewa Skowronska-Dolata: “Today was not an easy game for us. After a good game, we always play a bad one right after it. Nonetheless we are still in the tournament and try to reach the next round.”

Serbia captain Maja Ognjenovic: “It is always a pleasure to play against Poland. Today we finally started to play as good as we can. Since we arrived first in our pool, we have two days now to recover and to prepare for the next match.”

Poland head coach Piotr Makowski: “Congratulations to the Serbian team. Our game tonight was neither good nor bad. In the third set we finally got into the game and started to play as good as we can. We still have a chance to reach the next round by beating Italy in our next match.”

Serbia head coach Zoran Terzic: “Both teams played very well tonight but I want to congratulate especially my players. We must be satisfied with our game today, now we have to prepare for the quarterfinals".