EuroVolley 2021 Qualifiers: All results of May 14

The #EuroVolleyM qualifiers will continue this weekend.
The Netherlands stay undefeated in Pool A in Apeldoorn, by beating Sweden in four sets, partially 17:25, 21:25, 25:19, 17:25. Nimir Abdel Aziz was the top scorer for the winners with 22 points, three points less tallied Jacob Link of Sweden.

In Pool E in Ploiesti, Romania, the hosts defeated Albania in four sets (26:24, 22:25, 13:25, 21:25). Gabriel Cherbeleata made 17 point for the winners, who scored their second victory in the pool, having already beaten Albania in the first leg as well. Albania’s best scorer was Anton Qafarena with 14 points.
On the same Pool, Switzerland stun Slovakia but ony in first set, as but the rivals respond quickly by winning the match in four sets (19:25, 25:21, 25:22, 25:21). Thus Slovakia extend their perfect record after dominating the first leg last week.

In Pool F in Podgorica, Montenegro, Greece destroys Georgia in straight sets (10:25, 10:25, 16:25) and remain undefeated at the top of the table, while the rivals were left at the bottom, winless and still in search of their first set in this pool.
Not a single player across both sides scored in double digits and Greece’s Nikos Zoupani with 9 points and an incredible 8/9 for 89% in attack was the top scorer of the game.

Giorgos Petreas, Greece middle blocker: “It was important for us to win this gamne against Georgia and find some rhythm for the next two games that are really important for us to qualify to the European Championship. We knew that Georgia was the weakest side in the pool, but we played really serioulsy and never gave them the chance to win even one set. We now focus on tomorrow’s match.”

Peter Lobzhanidze, Georgia opposite: “The game was really tough because our team is pretty inexperienced, comprising of younger players – almost everyone is under the age of twenty. But this match was good for experience and although we unfortunately lost today, we hope to win our next game.”

On the same Pool, hosts Montenegro were seemingly on their way to an easy win after a opening up a wide two-set lead, but was not to be an easy evening for them at all. However, Azerbaijan decisively turned the match around to stay alive in the game forcing a fourth set and were just about stun Montenegro with a tie-break.
3-1 is the final result, partially 25:16, 25:12, 20:25, 26:24.
Aleksandar Minic, Ivan Zvicer and Vojin Cacic poured in 14 points each for the winners, while Agil Aghazade put down 16 on the other side of the net.

In Pool G in Matosinhos, Portugal, Norway claimed first win disappointing Hungary in four sets (21:25, 26:24, 25:18, 25:22), and thus grabbing first three points in the competition for a spot at the Eurovolley Finals. The winners started on the wrong foot in the match, losing the first set, but afterwards found their rhythm with excellent performance on the block (14) and on the serving line (7). For the winners, Jonas Kvalen was the top scorer with 16 points while Krisztian Padar, with 26 points, was the top scorer of the match.

Tore Aleksandersen, Head coach of Norway: “We did a really good job today; we had to substitute many players due to injuries, so we played with a lot of young players. We fought, we showed emotion, we deserved the win. We started serving better and had some good passes; we performed good on the block, so this was the key to the success. We have two tough matches ahead.”

Robert Koch, Head coach of Hungary: “If we look at the numbers, we didn’t play worse compared to the tournament in Hungary. The difference today was that they were able to build some point-difference, and it was difficult to come back. We will meet two top teams, now, Belarus and Portugal and our goal is to grow day after day and show some progress.”

On the same Pool, the match between Portugal and Belarus was a clash of two top-ranked teams in the charts.
Portugal opened the tournament on home soil with an important win and they are only one step from progressing to the EuroVolley 2021. Hugo Lucas Gaspar became a leader of Portugal in the opening set scoring 7 points, while setter Miguel Tavares Rodrigues served 3 aces. This was a an impulse for Portugal to improve their game to not repeat a scenario from last week when they had to defeat Belarus in five sets. 3-1 is the final result today, partially 25:22, 25:19, 21:25, 25:21. Radzivon Miskevich, in Belarus’ jersey, topped the scorers’ chart with 21 points, while Hugo Lucas Gaspar was the best scorer of Portugal. Tomorrow, on Saturday, Portugal will face Norway, while Belarus will face Hungary.

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| CEV EUROVOLLEY 2021 – SECOND TOURNAMENT

| May 14, 2021

| POOL A (Apeldoorn – NED)

Sweden – The Netherlands 1-3 (17:25, 21:25, 25:19, 17:25)

STANDINGS: The Netherlands 9, Croatia 3, Sweden 0.

| POOL E (Ploiesti – ROU)

Albania – Romania 1-3 (26:24, 22:25, 13:25, 21:25)

Slovakia – Switzerland 3-1 (19:25, 25:21, 25:22, 25:21)

STANDINGS: Slovakia 12, Switzerland 6, Romania 9, Albania 0.

| POOL F (Podgorica – MNE)

Georgia – Greece 0-3 (10:25, 10:25, 16:25)

Montenegro – Azerbajan 3-1 (25:16, 25:12, 20:25, 26:24)

STANDINGS: Greece 11, Montenegro 10, Azerbaijan 3, Georgia 0.

| POOL G (Matosinhos – POR)

Norway – Hungary 3-1 (21:25, 26:24, 25:18, 25:22)

Portugal – Belarus 3-1 (25:22, 25:19, 21:25, 25:21)

STANDINGS: Portugal 11, Belarus 7, Hungary 3, Norway 3.

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| May 15, 2021

| POOL A (Apeldoorn – NED)
Croatia – Sweden 3-2 (25:21, 25:22, 19:25, 21:25, 15:11)

| POOL E (Ploiesti – ROU)
Romania – Switzerland 2-3 (25:21, 21:25, 25:21, 22:25, 7:15)
Albania – Slovakia 1-3 (16:25, 19:25, 27:25, 19:25)

| POOL F (Podgorica – MNE)
Greece – Azerbajan 3-0 (25:16, 25:17, 25:13)
Georgia – Montenegro 0-3 (14:25, 20:25, 16:25)

| POOL G (Matosinhos – POR)
Hungary – Belarus 1-3 (23:25, 25:19, 20:25, 18:25)
Norway – Portugal 0-3 (17:25, 18:25, 22:25)

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| May 16, 2021

| POOL A (Apeldoorn – NED)
The Netherlands – Croatia 2-3 (25:27, 23:25, 25:18, 26:24, 13:15)

| POOL E (Ploiesti – ROU)
Romania – Slovakia 3-1 (25:19, 16:25, 25:22, 25:15)
Switzerland – Albania 3-1 (25:27, 25:15, 25:19, 25:23)

| POOL F (Podgorica – MNE)
Azerbajan – Georgia 3-0 (25:13, 25:17, 25:17)
Greece – Montenegro 0-3 (15:25, 21:25, 23:25)

| POOL G (Matosinhos – POR)
Belarus – Norway 3-0 (25:19, 25:15, 25:10)
Hungary – Portugal 0-3 (15:25, 20:25, 22:25)

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| CEV EUROVOLLEY 2021 – PREVIOUS RESULTS

| May 6, 2021 – POOL E (Nitra – SVK)
Slovakia – Switzerland 3-0 (25:22, 25:21: 25,23)
Romania – Albania 3-0 (25:15, 25:19, 25:18)

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| May 7, 2021

| POOL A (Zadar – CRO)
Croatia – The Netherlands 1-3 (30:32, 25:19, 23:25, 18:25)

| POOL E (Nitra – SVK)
Slovakia – Romania 3-1 (25:21, 25:21, 14:25, 25:22)
Switzerland – Albania 3-0 (25:18, 25:21, 26:24)

| POOL F (Tblisi – GEO)
Azerbaijan – Montenegro 1-3 (23:25, 21:25, 25:21, 15:25)
Georgia – Greece 0-3 (12:25, 14:25, 12:25)

| POOL G (Budapest – HUN)
Belarus – Portugal 2-3 (25:21, 23:25, 25:23, 23:25, 10:15)
Hungary – Norway 3-1 (23:25, 25:22, 25:23, 25:21)

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| May 8, 2021

| POOL A (Zadar – CRO)
The Netherlands – Sweden 3-0 (25:17, 25:17, 25:15)

| POOL E (Nitra – SVK)
Switzerland – Romania 3-1 (21:25, 25:18, 25:19, 25:20)
Albania – Slovakia 1-3 (20:25, 13:25, 25:21, 19:25)

| POOL F (Tblisi – GEO)
Montenegro – Greece 2-3 (25:17, 20:25, 19:25, 25:23, 14:16)
Azerbaijan – Georgia 3-0 (25:20, 25:22, 25:15)

| POOL G (Budapest – HUN)
Portugal – Norway 3-0 (25:18, 25:21, 25:19)
Belarus – Hungary 3-0 (25:21, 25:15, 25:12)

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| May 9, 2021

| POOL A (Zadar – CRO)
Sweden – Croatia 1-3 (18:25, 20:25, 25:22, 19:25)

| POOL F (Tblisi – GEO)
Greece – Azerbaijan 3-0 (25:21, 25:29, 25:18)
Montenegro – Georgia 3-0 (25:8, 25:12, 25:11)

| POOL G (Budapest – HUN)
Norway – Belarus 0-3 (21:25, 14:25, 22:25)
Portugal – Hungary 3-0 (25:21, 25:16, 25:21)
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Formula: the first of the 7 Pools and the best 5 runners-up qualifies at the Main Event.
Already qualified as organizers: Poland, Czech Republic, Estonia and Finland.
Already qualified from Eurovolley 2019: Serbia, Slovenia, France, Russia, Italy, Ukraine, Germany, Belgium.
Already qualified as winners of pool B, C, D: Bulgaria, Turkey, Latvia
Standings best seconds of the groups ended: North Macedonia 9, Spain 9, Austria 4

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Source and Photos: CEV