Slovakia dominates Switzerland in 2nd round of 2012 CEV Women’s Junior Volleyball Championship
Wing-spiker Miroslava Rehakova contributed valuable 16 points, while PISTELAKOVA added 11 points, as the women’s junior volleyball team of Slovakia swept a three-set match from Swiss ladies at home.
The match was played at City Sport Hall in BARDEJOV, Slovakia. The final set scores were 29-27, 25-20, 25-19. Besides Slovakia and Switzerland, teams from Bulgaria, the Netherlands, Austria, and Azerbaijan are also included in Pool D of the 2012 CEV Women’s
Junior Volleyball Championship.
The home team had certain advantages in the match. They were equipped with great support of local fans and had no difficulty to play under familiar conditions. Furthermore, the team had undergone extensive training and practice for the match. They opened
the match with powerful serves and aces. The Swiss players showed good reception and tackled some of the difficult shots.
However, the hosts picked up lead and continued with heavy strike of volleys in opponent’ half. They targeted the rare spaces and gaps on Swiss half and added quick points.
Slovakia led the scores up till first mandatory stop, while Switzerland retaliated after the break-point. Swiss captain Laura Caluori and Elena Steinemann put up a combined effort and snatched lead from Slovakia. Afterwards, the score shifted with close
gaps and both teams regularly traded leads. Slovakia played fast near the set points and managed to claim opening set with two-point lead (29-27).
In the second set, Swiss team was under pressure but fought bravely. They gave a good competition to hosts in the first few minutes of the second set but eventually had to accept Slovakian supremacy on the net. Slovakia picked up lead at the first technical
timeout and controlled the operations of game until set points.
Rehakova was the centre of attention throughout the second frame for her successful attack attempts. The setter of Slovakian team also did an impressive job and poked many balls across the net. Swiss squad resisted but ended up with the loss of another set
with five-point deficit (20-25).
Third set was a sort of one-sided affair as Slovakia led the scores all the way from start to end. The Swiss players looked visibly exhausted and disgruntled after the loss of two sets in row.
On the other hand, Slovakian line-up enjoyed top form and supported by rowdy local fans they finished the third set at 25-19, which declared Slovakia a winner with 3-0 record.
Next up, the victorious Slovakian team will go against Azerbaijan on Thursday. The home squad is enjoying a great form and it is more likely that Azerbaijan will be an easy competitor for them.
In the opening day matches, Austria defeated Azerbaijan in straight sets. That is why, Slovakia has better prospects to win the next match of the 2nd round of 2012 CEV Women’s Junior Volleyball Championship.
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