Eurovolley2023: Slovenia first semifinalist! Ukraine defeated in four sets after almost 2 hours of play

It’s Gehorghe Cretu’s Slovenia the first team to take the ticket for Semifinals of 2023 European Championship!
At Palace of Culture and Sports in Varna, Bulgaria, a game with lot of ups and downs in both sides, but with a Slovenia slightly better in decisive moments of the game, ended by 3-1 (25:17, 31:29, 21:25, 25:23), and lasted as many as 117 minutes!

First set one-sided with Slovenia, winner of Pool B, able to keep the lead from start to finish, after a decisive break at 12-7, and closing with a clear 25-17.
Balance in second set, with the reaction of Ukraine, led by Vasyl Tupchii and Oleh Plotnytskyi. They even had 4 set points to level the score, but it was Klemen Cebulj to close this partial, and it is 2-0 (31-29).
Despite the occasions wasted in the previous set Ukraine don’t give up, and they are determined to prolong the game.
And they did it.
21-25 is the final, when Vladyslav Shchurov put down the decisive ball that is worth the 2-1.
Ukraine keep the lead also in fourth set, but never able to take the decisive break. The fourth-placed of Pool B were also ahead 20-22 and 22-23, until the decisive ball of Tine Urnaut 25-23, that closed set and games.

Nothing to do for Ukraine, despite the 21 points from opposite Vasyl Tupchii, top scorer of the game, well supported by Oleh Plotnytskyi, who also contributed with 20.
On the winning side top scorer of the game Klemen Cebulj, who closed the game with 17 points to his name and 50% in attack, including 2 winning blocks and now, together with hos teammates, he’ll wait for the winner between Serbia and Poland, who will lock horns tomorrow in first quarterfinal scheduled in Bari, Italy.

In the evening, France will face Romania to determined who will be the other team who’ll move to Final Four in Rome.
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🏐| CEV EUROVOLLEY 2023 | Quarterfinals

👉🏼September 11, 2023 | Palace of Culture and Sports | Varna 🇧🇬

• 17.30 (Local Time) | Slovenia – Ukraine 3-1 (25:17, 31:29, 21:25, 25:23)

• 21.00 (Local Time) | France – Romania 3-0 (25:22, 25:14, 27:25)
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September 12, 2023 | Palaflorio | Bari 🇮🇹
• 18.00 (Local Time) | Poland – Serbia 3-1 (26:28, 25:15, 36:34, 25:17) (GALLERY)
• 21.15 (Local Time) | Italy – The Netherlands 3-2 (19:25, 25:17, 25:16, 23:25, 15:12) (GALLERY)

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