The matches played at 'Kolodruma' Hall in Plovdiv once again offered great volleyball and strong emotions for players and fans.

Yesterday, 4 new matches were played in Plovdiv. Here's what happened on the second day of EuroVolley 2024 in Group B:

1. Estonia - Slovenia 1:3 (25:17, 25:27, 16:25, 14:25)

The first match of the day was between Estonia and Slovenia. The Baltic volleyball players struck first, taking the initial game with a comfortable lead – 25:17. The second set was the most dramatic, but Slovenia 'woke up' to level the score at 1:1 after 27:25. After winning this set, the Slovenians played more confidently and gave their opponents almost no chance in the next two, winning the games with 16 and 14 points respectively. Thus, Slovenia sealed its first success at EuroVolley 2024, after having surprisingly lost to Greece in their first match.

2. Belgium - Greece 3:1 (18:25, 25:22, 25:23, 25:23)

Our southern neighbors started this match with a better performance, winning the first game 25:18. The Belgians recovered after this heavy blow, and the match entered an even rhythm for a prolonged period. The Flemish team won the second game 25:22. The third and fourth sets ended with identical scores – 25:23, which was enough for the Belgians to celebrate their second success in the tournament, having previously defeated Romania 3:1. Despite losing this match, Greece continues to show good play, which will definitely bring them more positives in the group being played at 'Kolodruma' Hall in Plovdiv. It is important to note that in the fourth set of their match against Belgium, the Greeks overcame a large deficit to get as close as possible to their opponent. Unfortunately for them, they could not force the match into a tie-break, where they might have ultimately won.

3. Italy - Spain 3:0 (25:22, 25:14, 34:32)

The match between 'Squadra Azzurra' and 'La Furia Roja' can definitely be described as the 'Derby of Group B'. These two teams immediately stood out as favorites to reach the semifinals in Sofia, after achieving trouble-free 3:0 victories on the first day of EuroVolley 2024. The first set was even, but the Italians were calmer at the decisive moment to take a 1:0 lead after 25:22. The second game was under the total domination of the 'Azzurri', who left the Iberians with only 14 points, which meant 2:0 and more confidence before the crucial third set. Quite the opposite – in the third set, Spain had things in their hands, even leading 20:15, but failed to hold onto their comfortable lead. After a series of exchanged set points for 'La Furia Roja' and match points for 'Squadra Azzurra', the court turned into a true gladiatorial battle between two quality teams. Both teams showed high class in defense and attack, with neither wanting to give up the set. Ultimately, Italy snatched the set after the phenomenal score of 34:32, which unleashed huge joy in the 'Azzurri' camp and audience, while also causing many tears and disappointment among the Iberian volleyball players and fans. In this way, 'Squadra Azzurra', along with 'Druzyna Polska', continue to be the teams that have not conceded a lost set in two played rounds – their overall statistics in the championship so far are 6:0.

4. Czech Republic - Romania 3:0 (25:20, 25:22, 25:19)

The last match of the day in Plovdiv pitted the Czech Republic against Romania. Both teams showed good volleyball on the first day of EuroVolley, and today they played another quality match against each other. In the first game, the Czech Republic showed its superior class, closing the set after 25:20. The second set was the time when our northern neighbors played more calmly, staying in contention until the very end. However, the Czech Republic demonstrated better decisions in decisive moments and managed to win the second game with a score of 25:22. The third set confirmed what had been shown so far – the Czechs finished what they started in the match, taking the third set after 25:19. Thus, the Czech Republic recorded its first success in the tournament, after losing to Spain the previous day.

Photos: Bozhidar Boyadzhiev and cev.eu