Latvia Garners First Win of Euro Qualifying

2018 FIVB World Championship – Men’s European Qualifier

• May 23 to June 4
• Results

There were no surprises in Ljubljana, Slovenia, on Friday as Belgium and Slovenia continued their reign atop Pool C, while Latvia posted its first win. All three matches were won in sweeps.

Latvia 3, Georgia 0

It took just 59 minutes for Latvia to garner its first win of the tournament as the team turned in a 73 percent hitting efficiency for the contest. Latvia won the match 25-9, 25-17, 25-14 with help from seven blocks and six aces.

“We did our best, although it was hard to concentrate with the other team not playing so well,” Latvia’s Edvarts Buivids said. We loosened up a bit at the beginning of the third set, but we pulled ourselves together and secured the victory.”

Buivids scored a match high 16 points, with 12 kills, two blocks and two aces. Aleksandrs Kudrjasovs added 14 points, including three aces, while Toms Svans chipped in 10 points, including two blocks.

Badri Nutsubidze led Georgia with eight points, all on kills.

Slovenia 3, Portugal 0

Slovenia picked up its third sweep of the tournament, but faced its toughest challenge yet. In the two previous matches, foes hadn’t scored more than 19 points in a set. On Friday, Portugal remained close in each stanza, falling 25-21, 25-20, 27-25.

“This match indicated how hard it is to play day after day and to stay focused,” Slovenian captain Tine Urnaut said. “I am happy that we won and even with some ups and downs in our performance we still managed to take another three points.”

Portugal led 8-6 at the first timeout of Set 1, but Slovenia built a six point lead at 21-15 en route to the win. In Set 2, Slovenia led early, but saw Portugal vault ahead 16-14 before recovering for the victory. Portugal rallied from down 16-14 in Set 3 to take a 21-20 lead, but could not hang on and extend the match.

Urnaut led all scorers with 16 points, all on kills, while Klemen Cebulj and Mitja Gasparini added 13 points apiece. Gasparini downed 13 kills, while Cebulj accounted for 11 kills. Alen Pajenk put up four of the team’s 10 blocks.

Lourenco Martins and Alexandre Ferreira added 10 points apiece for Portugal. Five aces and 22 Slovenian miscues kept Portugal in the match.

Belgium 3, Israel 0

Belgium held the Israeli side without an ace and to just one block in a 25-13, 25-18, 25-21 sweep. A 58 percent hitting efficiency also aided the Belgians.

“Already before the tournament we knew that the toughest games would be against Portugal and Slovenia,” Belgian Francois Lecat said. “However, we respect all our opponents. I believe we have a good team, with good players on the court and as well on the bench, so we can save some energy for the most important matches.”

Belgium led Set 1 throughout but had to overcome an early deficit in Set 2 and a late charge in Set 3 for the win.

Sam Deroo led the Belgian attack with 14 points, including 12 kills, while Lecat added 12 points, with five kills, four blocks and three aces.

Iliya Goldrin led Israel with 10 points.

Pool C in SLO (Through 5/26/17)