Spain
Probably the two most pleasant surprises are Estonia and Spain. Hosts Estonia share leadership in Pool D (in Tallinn), along with Russia, both having 3-0. Baltic team upset Montenegro in Round 3, prevailing by 3-0 (25-23, 27-25, 25-23) thanks to opposite from Turkish Maliye Piyango, Oliver Venno, who made 19 points. Russia won all three games in straight sets, beating Hungary in Round 3 with Maksim Zhigalov from Belogorie scoring 12 points.
Spain dominate Pool F (Karlovy Vary, Czech Republic) side by side with Finland, both having 3-0 record. The 2007 CEV European Championship winners overpowered hosts after tie-break in Round 3, partially 25-22, 20-25, 22-25, 25-21, 15-10). The opposite of the Spanish title holders C’an Ventura, Andrés Villena, scored 22 for the winners. As For Finland, they won Scandinavian derby versus Sweden in straight sets, helped by 14 points from Latvian-born receiver and a member of Topvolley Callant Amtwerp (Belgium), Elvis Krastiņš.
France (Kévin Le Roux 10 pts.) beat Turkey while Germany (Christian Fromm 12 pts.) outplayed Iceland, both by 3-0, to top Pool A in Lyon, France.
The Netherlands is the only undefeated team in Pool B, while Belgium and Slovenia both have the same effect in Pool C in Ljubljana, Slovenia, without dropping a single set. Pool B hosts downed Portugal, with partial 25-21, 25-20, 27-25, in Round 3 thanks to 16 points from new reinforcement of Azimut Modena, Tine Urnaut. Belgium defeated Israel with Zaksa player Sam Deroo scoring 14.
Serbia, the 2016 FIVB World League title holders, is the only team to hold flawless record in Pool E (Zagreb, Croatia). The latest victim of the Balkan team was Switzerland, 3-0 (25-15, 25-18, 25-18). New player of Brazilian Taubaté, Marko Ivović topped Serbia with 14 points.
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