Bulgaria – Latvia
Bulgaria imposed its rule right from the start of the game with Latvia eventually finishing the first set with a margin of 10 points (25-15). The home heroines did not slow down their pace also in the next set (25-13) and playing with great confidence and determination they stretched momentum also to set 3 for a well-deserved win in straight sets (25-14).
The other match of the day was by far more contested; Croatia opened strong (13:8) but Greece was able to flip the charts around already by the second technical time-out (16:14) before cruising to the final 25-20. In the second set Greece kept a margin of 2-3 points right from the start and could bring it home at 25-16 for a provisional 2:0 lead in sets. However, Croatia was able to find their way back into the game responding with a 25-16 in set 3 and extending their supremacy also to the next one (25-19) thereby calling for a tie-break. The young players did evidently feel much pressure there but Croatia was able to keep their nerves under control and to finish it off at 15-13 for their first win in the competition and two valuable points for the standings of the group.
To read more news from this competition click on 2013 FIVB Volleyball Women’s U20 World Championship – European Qualification.
