Italy prevailed over Croatia in a big match valid for the pole position in Pool C at the 2021 CEV Women’s Volleyball European Championship.
Italy demonstrated pure power against Pool C host Croatia in Zadar in its penultimate match in the preliminary stage of the CEV Womens’ EuroVolley 2021: 3-0 (25-15, 25-23, 25-14). Given that it was a direct duel for No.1 in the pool, and also a duel of the two undefeated sides, the clear victory of ‘Azzurrine’ gave them the pole position for the playoffs. Paola Egonu played her best match in the tournament so far, pouring in 24 points through a 66 % attack.
The titleholder Serbia achieved its fifth victory in as many games at home in Belgrade in Pool A, finishing the group stage undefeated and in the first place (but that was known from earlier). Zoran Terzić’s team had the most difficult test so far in the tournament against the young and talented squad of Russia, who brought the match back on level grounds after a two-set deficit but failed to take the fifth set. Actually, this duel will be remembered as the first tie-break between the two world powerhouses in the history of continental championships – 3-2 (25-22, 25-19, 16-25, 24-26, 15-10). Tijana Bošković was Serbia’s most prolific player in the match with 27 points. Milena Rašič set up four blocks. In its last match of this stage, ‘Zbornaya’ will face Bosnia and Herzegovina in the attempt to earn the best possible position for the playoffs.
