Serbia
Serbia’s captain Uroš Kovačević topped the scorers’ chart with 20 points and Drazen Luburić contributed to the victory with 12, while Spain’s captain Andres J. Villena scored 10 and Alejandro Vigil added 9, including 7 blocks, in the losing effort of their side.
Serbia entered the match weakened by the absence of Čedomir Stanković who had injured his arm. Nevertheless, Siniša Reljić’s players started well their last game taking an early 4:1 lead. Spain quickly equalized to 4:4, but Serbia went to the first technical break leading 8:6. After that, the home side extended the lead to 12:7. Spain managed to regain some pace and narrow the gap to 3 points of difference before the second technical break (13:16). Spain continued to recuperate after the pause and as a result of their effort the score was leveled at 20:20. From that moment on the teams played point-for-point, but Serbia came first to the set ball at 24:23, and wrapped it up immediately to take the lead in sets.
In the first stage of the second set it was a fairly leveled game. After 9:9 on the scoreboard, Spain gained 3 points of advantage (12:9) and further extended the lead before the second technical break (16:12). Serbia slowly but surely started narrowing the gap, and ultimately the home side turned the score completely in their favor at 20:19. Dražen Luburić excellent serve and Aleksandar Okolić blocking kill then made it 21:19 for the hosts. It was a sufficient gap for Serbia who preserved it until the very end of the set (25-23).
The crowd could see more of the same in the third set: a great battle of two equal teams who most of the time played point-for-point. So, at the first technical time-out it was 8:7 to Serbia, but at the second one Spain was in front by one point (16:15). After an exciting finish, Serbia once again managed to edge their rivals and steal a narrow 25-23 for the precious victory and the top spot in the final standings.
Siniša Reljić, head coach of Serbia: “Before the start of the match I said to my guys that we are a better team. And I mean it. Carried by this wonderful crowd we could not lose today”.
Uroš Kovačević, captain of Serbia: “I am overwhelmed, really. We beat a very strong team, the European vice-champions. It is as if we had won the World Championship. This crowd is really great and it is a wonderful feeling to be on the court playing for them”.
Ricardo Maldonado, head coach of Spain: “I do not like the qualification system. Some of the best junior teams in the world, mostly from Europe, will not participate and it is a shame. As for the match, Serbia made less errors and that is what decided the winner”.
Andres J. Villena, captain of Spain: “Bad luck for us today. It is a shame that only one goes to the World Championship. I think we also deserved to be there, but Serbia was a slightly better team in this match and they committed fewer mistakes than us”.
To read more news from this competition click on 2013 FIVB Volleyball Men’s U21 World Championship – European Qualification.
