2018 Women’s European Volleyball League Week 2 Update

2018 WOMEN’S EUROPEAN VOLLEYBALL LEAGUE

• May 19th-June 20th, 2018
• European Volleyball League Homepage

Five matches are down in pool play of the 2018 Women’s European Volleyball League, meaning just one final stand remains for each country to either clinch or do their best at coming back into the picture. One of those is Czech Republic, who is the only undefeated team left at 5-0 and has clinched a spot in the Golden League’s Final Four. From there, things get narrowed to the Final Round, where a champion will emerge from the elimination portion.

FORMAT:

In the 15th edition of the Women’s European Volleyball League, the tournament is split into two divisions: a 12-team Golden League and an eight-team Silver League. All teams are split into four-team pools for their division. In the Golden League, all three pool winner plus Hungary (or the team in second if they win their pool), the Final Round host, advance. In the Silver League, the winner of each pool, the next best team and host-Sweden will advance to the last four.

Overall, this event acts as a qualifier for two teams to the 2018 FIVB Volleyball Women’s Challenger Cup, which provides an opportunity to make the 2019 FIVB Volleyball Women’s Nations League.

RESULTS:

Golden League

POOL A

Immediately to start off the second half of pool matches, Azerbaijan won the rematch with Bulgaria to make things more interesting to the finish in Pool A. Now we are set up for an intriguing final day on June 6. Even with the loss though, things heavily favor Bulgaria, as a 3-1 victory clinches the pool for them based on sets won and lost. Azerbaijan meanwhile must win with a Bulgarian loss or five set victory. Add to it that the schedule sets up an easier finale for the Bulgarian side against Portugal as opposed to Ukraine. If Hungary could down Finland in Pool B though, it would open up a spot for the top second-place team, which Azerbaijan would have a great chance of garnering.

Matches		Pts	Sets			Points
Rank	Team		W	L	W	L	Ratio	W	L	Ratio
1	Bulgaria	12	4	1	13	5	2.600	436	372	1.172
2	Azerbaijan	12	4	1	13	7	1.857	469	420	1.117
3	Ukraine	6	2	2	8	7	1.143	411	411	1.000
4	Portugal	0	0	5	3	15	0.200	333	446	0.747

Schedule:

Date	Time		Score		Set 1	Set 2	Set 3	Set 4	Set 5	Total	Report
19 May	17:00	Bulgaria	3–0	Portugal	25–13	25–18	25–19			75–50	Report
19 May	18:00	Azerbaijan	3–1	Ukraine	16–25	25–19	25–23	28–26		94–93	Report
23 May	18:00	Azerbaijan	3–1	Portugal	24–26	25–17	25–14	25–17		99–74	Report
23 May	18:30	Bulgaria	3–1	Ukraine	32–34	25–10	25–22	25–21		107–87	Report
26 May	17:00	Bulgaria	3–1	Azerbaijan	17–25	25–17	25–14	25–21		92–77	Report
27 May	17:00	Portugal	0–3	Ukraine	22–25	14–25	13–25			49–75	Report
30 May	17:00	Ukraine	3–1	Portugal	25–19	21–25	25–22	25–20		96–86	Report
30 May	18:00	Azerbaijan	3–1	Bulgaria	25–20	23–25	25–21	25–21		98–87	Report
2 Jun	18:00	Ukraine	0–3	Bulgaria	18–25	20–25	22–25			60–75	Report
2 Jun	15:00	Portugal	1–3	Azerbaijan	25–25	28–26	11–25	15–25		79–101	Report
6 Jun	17:00	Ukraine	–	Azerbaijan	–	–	–			0–0	Report
6 Jun	16:00	Portugal	–	Bulgaria	–	–	–			0–0	Report

POOL B

Coming into the re-match stage of pool play, Pool B was the crazy group with a trio of 2-1 teams. Since that point, Finland has gone 2-0 with Hungary and Croatia each splitting things at 1-1. There’s less pressure on the Hungarian side, because they will be in the Final Round regardless as the hosts, but they could still create quit the scenario if they do end up winning the pool. At this point it will either be them or Finland, because the two take each other on. Regardless of the result, Croatia would be unable to hop the winner in points. Now, if Hungary wins in four sets or less, they would claim the Pool B victory. If Finland wins or loses in five sets, they would advance on. Any second-place team in Pool A and C will be rooting for the Hungarians to garner the group crown, because if that happens the top non-pool winner will advance to the Final Round.

Matches		Pts	Sets			Points
Rank	Team		W	L	W	L	Ratio	W	L	Ratio
1	Finland	12	4	1	12	6	2.000	429	360	1.192
2	Hungary	10	3	2	12	7	1.714	425	404	1.052
3	Croatia	8	3	2	11	9	1.222	440	449	0.980
4	France	0	0	5	2	15	0.133	332	413	0.804

Schedule:

Date	Time		Score		Set 1	Set 2	Set 3	Set 4	Set 5	Total	Report
19 May	17:00	Croatia	3–0	Finland	25–21	26–24	25–19			76–64	Report
20 May	18:30	Hungary	3–0	France	25–16	25–19	25–20			75–55	Report
23 May	18:30	Hungary	3–1	Croatia	26–24	25–23	23–25	25–12		99–84	Report
23 May	18:30	Finland	3–0	France	25–18	25–13	25–21			75–52	Report
26 May	16:00	Finland	3–1	Hungary	25–19	23–25	25–16	25–19		98–79	Report
26 May	20:00	Croatia	3–1	France	25–19	25–21	18–25	27–25		95–90	Report
30 May	17:00	Finland	3–1	Croatia	25–18	24–26	25–15	25–19		99–78	Report
30 May	20:00	France	0–3	Hungary	23–25	18–25	19–25			60–75	Report
2 Jun	17:00	Croatia	3–2	Hungary	23–25	25–23	25–15	19–25	15–9	107–97	Report
2 Jun	20:00	France	1–3	Finland	14–25	25–18	14–25	22–25		75–93	Report
6 Jun	18:30	Hungary	–	Finland	–	–	–			0–0	Report
6 Jun	20:00	France	–	Croatia	–	–	–			0–0	Report

POOL C

Czech Republic is the only undefeated team through five matches in the Women’s European Volleyball League – for the Golden or Silver League. Not only that, but they’ve lost just one set – which came against Slovakia. They appear to be the favorite, although their pool hasn’t been as strong as the other two. They’ll look to add to their momentum as they’ve already clinched Pool C by downing Belarus once again, while the others play for a pride and a slightly better finish in the event.

Matches		Pts	Sets			Points
Rank	Team		W	L	W	L	Ratio	W	L	Ratio
1	Czech Republic	15	5	0	15	1	15.000	391	308	1.269
2	Belarus	7	3	2	10	10	1.000	428	433	0.988
3	Slovakia	4	1	4	6	13	0.462	405	437	0.927
4	Spain	4	1	4	6	13	0.462	393	439	0.895

Schedule:

Date	Time		Score		Set 1	Set 2	Set 3	Set 4	Set 5	Total	Report
19 May	15:00	Slovakia	2–3	Belarus	24–26	25–18	24–26	25–21	8–15	106–106	Report
19 May	19:00	Spain	0–3	Czech Republic	23–25	21–25	12–25			56–75	Report
23 May	16:00	Belarus	3–0	Slovakia	25–23	25–19	25–20			75–62	Report
23 May	17:00	Czech Republic	3–0	Spain	25–20	25–16	25–21			75–57	Report
26 May	16:00	Belarus	1–3	Spain	21–25	25–11	23–25	16–25		85–86	Report
26 May	16:00	Czech Republic	3–0	Slovakia	25–17	25–20	25–19			75–56	Report
30 May	17:00	Slovakia	1–3	Czech Republic	25–16	16–25	23–25	18–25		82–91	Report
30 May	20:30	Spain	2–3	Belarus	23–25	25–21	22–25	25–19	9–15	104–105	Report
2 Jun	18:00	Czech Republic	3–0	Belarus	25–18	25–18	25–21			75–57	Report
2 Jun	19:00	Spain	1–3	Slovakia	21–25	17–25	25–20	27–29		90–99	Report
6 Jun	18:00	Belarus	–	Czech Republic	–	–	–			0–0	Report
6 Jun	18:00	Slovakia	–	Spain	–	–	–			0–0	Report

Silver League

POOL A

In the lone action of Sunday, Estonia upended Sweden in four sets to make things more interesting atop Pool A. That said, it doesn’t throw much of a wrench in the future plans because Sweden is already on to the next round as hosts regardless if they win the pool or not, and Estonia was already in good positioning to at least earn a bid to the final round as a non-pool winner. Speaking of which, Estonia’s victory actually clinches them a spot in the Final Four and they will join Sweden, and the top two teams in Pool B.

Matches		Pts	Sets			Points
Rank	Team		W	L	W	L	Ratio	W	L	Ratio
1	Sweden	4	1	12	14	5	2.800	435	359	1.212
2	Estonia	4	1	11	14	8	1.750	499	420	1.188
3	Switzerland	2	3	7	9	9	1.000	378	381	0.992
4	Kosovo	0	5	0	0	15	0.000	223	375	0.595

Schedule:

Date	Time		Score		Set 1	Set 2	Set 3	Set 4	Set 5	Total	Report
19 May	19:00	Sweden	3–0	Switzerland	25–13	26–24	25–17			76–54	Report
20 May	19:00	Kosovo	0–3	Estonia	8–25	12–25	17–25			37–75	Report
23 May	17:00	Estonia	3–2	Switzerland	21–25	25–17	24–26	25–18	15–12	110–98	Report
23 May	20:00	Kosovo	0–3	Sweden	21–25	23–25	10–25			54–75	Report
26 May	17:00	Estonia	2–3	Sweden	25–17	25–18	33–35	20–25	7–15	110–110	Report
26 May	17:30	Switzerland	3–0	Kosovo	25–14	25–15	25–17			75–46	Report
30 May	17:00	Sweden	2–3	Estonia	25–20	18–25	25–21	25–27	6–15	99–108	Report
30 May	19:30	Kosovo	0–3	Switzerland	18–25	20–25	15–25			53–75	Report
2 Jun	16:00	Sweden	3–0	Kosovo	25–11	25–15	25–7			75–33	Report
3 Jun	16:30	Switzerland	1–3	Estonia	25–21	19–25	17–25	15–25		76–96	Report
6 Jun	17:00	Estonia	–	Kosovo	–	–	–			0–0	Report
6 Jun	19:30	Switzerland	–	Sweden	–	–	–			0–0	Report

POOL B

Albania edged out Austria in five sets to set up an exciting finish on June 6 in Pool B of the Silver League. It’s a bit more complicated for Albania to win the pool though, even after downing Austria. They trail by two in the points column, meaning their only chance is a win and an Austrian loss. That makes thing simple for Austria, who need a win in any way. And add to it that they will be taking on a 1-4 Israel team, which should make Austria the heavy favorite. Assuming they win the match, Albania would still be in a solid spot with a win. At 5-1 they’d clinch a spot in the Final Round as one of the top two non-pool winners.

Matches		Pts	Sets			Points
Rank	Team		W	L	W	L	Ratio	W	L	Ratio
1	Austria	13	4	1	14	5	2.800	442	360	1.228
2	Albania	11	4	1	12	6	2.000	416	382	1.089
3	Georgia	3	1	4	5	12	0.417	336	407	0.826
4	Israel	3	1	4	5	13	0.385	367	429	0.855

Schedule:

Date	Time		Score		Set 1	Set 2	Set 3	Set 4	Set 5	Total	Report
19 May	15:00	Austria	3–1	Israel	25–21	25–12	20–25	25–15		95–73	Report
20 May	17:00	Georgia	0–3	Albania	16–25	18–25	22–25			56–75	Report
23 May	19:00	Israel	3–1	Georgia	25–21	23–25	25–20	25–16		98–82	Report
23 May	19:00	Albania	0–3	Austria	18–25	17–25	21–25			56–75	Report
26 May	17:00	Georgia	0–3	Austria	17–25	14–25	14–25			45–75	Report
26 May	19:00	Israel	0–3	Albania	18–25	16–25	14–25			48–75	Report
30 May	17:00	Albania	3–1	Israel	25–23	25–19	27–29	25–16		102–87	Report
30 May	17:45	Austria	3–1	Georgia	25–21	25–16	23–25	25–16		98–78	Report
2 Jun	17:45	Austria	2–3	Albania	25–21	25–22	19–25	16–25	11–15	96–108	Report
2 Jun	20:00	Georgia	3–0	Israel	25–21	25–18	25–22			75–61	Report
6 Jun	17:00	Albania	–	Georgia	–	–	–			0–0	Report
6 Jun	19:00	Israel	–	Austria	–	–	–			0–0	Report