France and Sweden have made it to the finals of the Women’s Volleyball Challenger Cup, setting the stage for a grand showdown for a slot in the upcoming 2024 Volleyball Nations League (VNL). Both teams displayed brilliant performance in the recently held semi-finals in Laval.
No. 10 Isabelle Haak (SWE) in attack – Photo: Volleyball World
In the first semi-final bout, the French team, playing on home ground, outshone Ukraine in straight sets 3-0, with scores 25-10, 25-20, and 25-22. Lucille Gicquel was the standout player for France, leading the scoreboard with 15 points. She received substantial support from Amandha Sylves and Héléna Cazaute who earned 13 and 10 points respectively. On the Ukrainian side, Svitlana Dorsman proved to be the most effective player, accruing 10 points, while Olaksandra Milenko and Anastasiia Kraiduba added 9 and 8 points each.
The second semi-final was a captivating clash between Sweden and Colombia, with the former emerging victorious 3-1. Isabelle Haak, once again played a pivotal role in securing their victory. She amassed an outstanding total of 41 points, leaving an indelible mark on the game. Despite the defeat, Colombia’s Amanda Daniela Coneo Cardona gave a commendable performance, topping her team’s score sheet with 17 points.
As the finalists, France and Sweden are now ready to compete for the opportunity to be part of the next edition of VNL in 2024. Both teams have displayed commendable performances in the semi-finals, indicating that the grand final will be a match worth watching.
