Eurovolley2023: Estonia and Germany survive at tie break in Pool A! 4 sets win for Spain and Croatia in Pool B

Great show in the first games of Pool A played at PalaRossini in Ancona, Italy, as both games ended at tie break!
To open this Sunday is a thrilling clash between Estonia and Switzerland.
Estonia dominated first two sets, but then suffered the comeback of the rivals, who collapsed only at fifth set with the minimum gap (25:18, 25:21, 22:35, 21:25, 15:13).

| PHOTOGALLERY OF THE MATCH

A result that could change the fate of this Pool, because Belgium wasted a 2-0 lead against Germany, collapsed at tie break too, and remain winless – 2-3 (25:22, 25:17, 15:25, 22:25, 12:15).
Decisive the 22 from Grozer, top scorer of the match with 56% in attack and 3 aces.

| PHOTOGALLERY OF THE MATCH

In Pool B, in a shocking turn of events, Croatia stuns pool hosts Bulgaria in four sets (25:22, 16:25, 22:25, 21:25) and secures Eighthfinals spot!
The win elevates the winners to second place in the pool with a 3-1 win-loss record and eight points, one just behind Slovenia.
Bulgaria now sits at third place with a 2-2 record and 6 points, narrowly leading Spain based on set ratio.
Marko Sedlacek was the absolute man of the match with 29 points including three aces and three kill blocks, with a 62% success rate.
Croatia started slow, trailing Bulgaria in the first set but bounced back fiercely in the second set, closing it 25-16.
By the third and fourth sets, they had found their rhythm, with a great Sedlacek. Despite Bulgaria’s efforts to make a late comeback in the final, Croatia managed to close 25-21, again with Sedlacek who put down the final point.

Earlier in Varna, Spain defeated Finland in a four-set battle (25:21, 19:25, 25:21, 25:23), led by captain Andres Villena.
The winners showed resilience as they quickly recovered from Finland’s early lead, leaving them at the bottom of the standings with a 1-3 record.

Croatia’s great win shakes up the Pool B standings, making the battle for the top spot more intriguing.
Bulgaria will have to win, as they find themselves in a precarious position at this moment.
Spain is in fourth place, Finland in fifth and Ukraine, in sixth but with two more games yet to play.

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🏐| CEV EUROVOLLEY 2023 | All results of September 3

👉🏼POOL A | Palarossini | Ancona 🇮🇹
• 18.00 (Local Time) | Estonia – Switzerland 3-2 (25:18, 25:21, 22:35, 21:25, 15:13)
| PHOTOGALLERY OF THE MATCH

• 21.00 (Local Time) | Belgium – Germany 2-3 (25:22, 25:17, 15:25, 22:25, 12:15)
| PHOTOGALLERY OF THE MATCH

👉🏼POOL B | Palace of Culture and Sports | Varna 🇧🇬

• 17.30 (Local Time) | Spain – Finland 3-1 (25:21, 19:25, 25:21, 25:23)

• 20.30 (Local Time) | Bulgaria – Croatia 1-3 (25:22, 16:25, 22:25, 21:25)

POOL C | Boris Trajkovski | Skopje 🇲🇰
• 17.00 (Local Time) | Denmark – Montenegro 1-3 (25:18, 29:31, 22:25, 23:25)
• 20.00 (Local Time) | Poland – North Macedonia 3-0 (25:12, 25:21, 25:14)

POOL D | Shlomo Group Arena | Tel Aviv-Yafo 🇮🇱
• 17.00 (Local Time) | Greece – Romania 1-3 (16:25, 18:25, 25:23, 20:25)
• 20.00 (Local Time) | Israel – Portugal 0-3 (22:25, 21:25, 12:25)