The 2010’s will be remembered as a historic decade for Slovenia’s men’s volleyball team. After winning a historic silver medal finish at the 2015 EuroVolley, in 2017 the team won a qualification tournament to clinch its firsts ever spot a FIVB World Championship. Serbian coach Slobodan Kovac called up 18 players for the team’s preliminary list for the WCH, meaning three players will be cut before September:
- Setters: Uroš Planinšič, Dejan Vinčič, Gregor Ropret
- Opposites: Mitja Gasparini, Tonček Štern
- MIddles: Data Mijatović, Jan Kozamernik, Sašo Štalekar, Pavlović Uroš, Alen Pajenk
- Outside Hitters: Djordjevič Alen, Rok Možič, Jan Klobučar, Klemen Čebulj, Tine Urnaut, Alen Šket
- Liberos: Urban Toman, Jani Kovačič
Here is what Kovac had to say of his squad:
“The players are well rested and their motivation levels are high. We have a very good team and now everything will depend on ourselves. We have arranged for friendlies against very good teams ahead of the WCH. We will see the state of the players and how well we are ready for the tournament. Our opponents will be very demanding. Thanks to the Slovenian Volleyball Association, we will have the opportunity to play against Iran and Canada, and an always excellent USA squad. We will also try to practice with these teams as well.”
Modena’s Urnaut, the team’s biggest star and EuroVolley’s best outside hitter was likewise very excited:
“We all know why we are here. We are very motivated and, according to everything that has happened in the past, our hopes are even greater. We are going to the World Cup with the goal of achieving the best possible result. “
Between September 6 ns 8, Slovenia will host USA, Canada, and Iran in a series of friendlies ahead of the WCH.
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