First day of EuroVolley in pool C was pretty good for team of Croatia and Russia. Croatia easily defeated Azerbaijan and Russia had small problems with Belarus. Finally, team of Russia finished the match after fourth sets.

 

 Azerbaijan โ€“ Croatia 0:3 (15:25, 23:25, 21:25)
 
Azerbaijan: Aliyeva (5), Abdulazimova (3), Parkhomenko (4), Gasimova (2), Mammadova (9), Rahimova (15), Korotenko (L) and Kiselyova, Habibova
Croatia: Grbac (5), Topic (11), Jerkov (6), Milos (8), Popovic (17), Pojlak (9), Maleviฤ‡ (L)
 
It wasn’t a tough match for Croatia. Azerbaijan was worse in each element of volleyball. Mainly Croatia had an advantage in attack and serve. The representation of Azerbaijan had a good moments in second set. They played on the high level and had opportunity to victory, but in the end Croatia showed huge force and after exciting finish won 25:23. First and third set was unilateral and Croatia didn’t feel the danger.
 
Team Stats:

 

Actions

Spike actions

Spike %

Block

Serve

Reception

Pos. Exc.

Unforced errors

Azerbaijan

72

44%

3

3

40%

22%

19

Croatia

76

57%

5

8

62%

42%

21

 

 

 

Players

Points

Spike points

Spike %

Spike errors

Block

Serve

Polina Rahimova

15

14

64%

2

0

1

Sanja Popovic

17

15

60%

4

0

2

 

 

Belarus โ€“ Russia 1:3 (21:25, 25:22, 14:25, 14:25)

Belarus: Tumas (1), Palcheuskaya (1), Harelik (13), Shevchenko (4), Malasai (16), Baryshevich (9), Pauliukouskaya (L) Kalinouskaya (4), Tsupranava, Yemilianychyk (2), Markevich (1), Mikhailenko (9)

Russia: Matienko (1), Obmochaeva (20), Chaplina (4), Kosheleva (17), Morozova (10), Shlyakhovaya (12) Kruchkova (L) oraz Pasynkova (8), Pankova, Dianskaya (2), Malykh (2) Malova (L)

Russia was a favourite this game and they won match but Belarus made a small sensation. Nobody expected winning set by Belarus however they played very well in second set and finally won this part of match. Russia didn’t allow the opponent spin up and they controled situation in the first, third and fourth set. They dominated in this parts of game and finally Russia team could enjoy the victory.

 

Team Stats:

               

Actions

Spike actions

Spike %

Block

Serve

Reception

Pos. Exc.

Unforced errors

Belarus

137

34%

8

5

55%

35%

16

Russia

123

47%

12

5

67%

43%

14

 

Team Leaders:

Players

Points

Spike points

Spike %

Spike errors

Block

Serve

Nadzeya Malasai

16

12

30%

7

3

1

Nataliya Obmochayeva

20

17

49%

2

1

2