The Finnish volleyball team demonstrated why they are one of the favorites of the CEV European League - in the first match of the tournament in Schwechat, Austria, they defeated Montenegro 3:1 (25:15, 20:25, 25:18, 25:16).
Ivica Jefić's team, on the other hand, showed that they have something to look forward to in the competition, as they shone in the second set, and also had good moments in other parts of the match against the ninth-ranked team in the European rankings.
In the first set, the winners of the last edition of the CEV European Golden League were convincing and won 25:15. Our national team was in an equal position in the opening 15 points, leading 7:6, when Finland made a 4:0 run and with excellent blocking was relentless.
The double-digit difference at the end of the first set did not shake the confidence of Ivica Jevtić's team - the "reds" led throughout the second set, and they took the key lead with attacks through Milutin Pavićević and on the serve of Vukašin Cimbaljević, when they took a 14:11 lead. The team won several exceptional points and looked convincing, the lead growing to +5, which was after a point from Rastko Milenković's serve for 18:13, as well as after a new 3:0 run, again on the serve of Cimbaljević and after his ace for 24:19, but also at the end of the set after a service error by Noa Martila.
In the third and fourth sets, the youth of our team and the quality of Finland, which reached the round of 16 at the last World Championship, came to the fore. The Finns opened both final sets with an early lead, and our team managed to threaten at times. In the fourth set, they did not give up after 8:1 and with the entry of corrector Đorđe Jovović, they improved their block, but they were unable to take the match to the fifth set.
Milutin Pavićević was the most efficient player on our team with 13 points, and Vukašin Cimbaljević also scored in double figures with 10 points. Middle blocker Matija Ćinćur stood out with nine points, and serve receiver Ivan Zvicer finished the match with eight. For Finland, Luka Martila was the best scorer of the match with 20 points.
The next match in the European League is tomorrow, the final match of the tournament in Schwechat, with host Austria at 5:50 PM and a chance for the first points.
Austria also won the set against the Finns in the tournament's opening match - it was 3:1 (21:25, 25:12, 25:17, 25:16).
MONTENEGRO - FINLAND 1:3 (15:25, 25:20, 18:25, 16:25)
Sweehat - “Multiverse of Schwechat”. Viewers: 113. Judges: Boško Milić (Austria) and Oana Kristina Fortu (Germany).
Montenegro: Lakčević (libero), Ćinćur 9, Stanojevic 1, Zvicer 8, R. Milenković 1, M. Joksimović, A. Joksimović (libero), V. Milenković 1, Čelebić 3, Jovović 3, Petrović 1, Cimbaljević 10, Peruničić, Pavićević 13. Coach: Ivica Jevtić.
Finland: Žbankov, Tinisma, Suihkonen, Kojka (libero), Valima, L. Martila 20, Hapaniemi 9, Nikula 3, Viljama, Savonsalmi 9, Breilin (libero), Lindgvist 11, N. Martila 14, Ivanov 1. Coach: Oli Kunari.
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