Poland better than Montenegro

In the match of the day in Pool I, the Czech Republic beat Greece in extremis 3:1 to keep their hopes alive for an eventual semifinal spot at the 2013 CEV Youth Volleyball European Championship - Girls. Poland (3:1 versus Montenegro) and Italy (in straight sets against Slovenia) won their duels quite easily. The “squadra azzurra” remains unbeaten after three competition days.

In the match of the day in Pool I, the Czech Republic beat Greece in extremis 3:1 to keep their hopes alive for an eventual semifinal spot at the 2013 CEV Youth Volleyball European Championship - Girls. Poland (3:1 versus Montenegro) and Italy (in straight sets against Slovenia) won their duels quite easily. The “squadra azzurra” remains unbeaten after three competition days.

Montenegro vs. Poland 1:3 (20-25, 14-25, 25-22, 13-25)
Poland cruised to a quite easy 3:1 win versus Montenegro in Monday’s last Pool I match in Bar. The hosts were not stable enough in service reception to frighten the upcoming Polish stars. Best scorer of the match was Poland’s Karolina Pisla with 15 points. Nevena Pejovic booked 12 for Montenegro. Poland had 20 (!) service winners at the end of the match.
Montenegro experienced some very strong moments at the end of the first set. Captain Marija Donovic set up several effective combinations at the net and Pejovic helped her with razor-sharp serves. However, it was not good enough to get Poland into dire straits. Poland’s head coach Grzegorz Kosatka sent in power hitter Malwina Smarzek who immediately supported her teammates with a missile through the Montenegrin defense. An Aleksandra Kazala service winner ended the opening set 25-20 for Poland.
The storyboard stayed pretty much the same in the second set. Poland displayed a powerful offensive game, while Montenegro still struggled in reception. In the third set Kosatka gave several reserve players the chance to show their talent what gradually changed the course of the game. The young local talents seized their chance for a comeback by offering solid resistance. The Montenegrin heroines – impressively – turned around the score from 11-17 to 25-22, causing deafening cheers in Topolica Sports Hall in Bar.
Nevertheless, Poland restored order in the fourth set. The East Europeans regained momentum with Smarzek on fire. Magdalena Damaske ended the match after 99 minutes with a service winner in Poland’s favor.

Montenegro captain Marija Donovic: “In the third set, we had nothing to lose. We just enjoyed playing what helped us coming back strongly. Still, it was not stable enough.”
Poland captain Paulina Baldyga: “We committed too many mistakes in the third set. Suddenly, we let them play. Fortunately we showed a strong reaction in the fourth set.”