Ukraine continued its strong performance at the European Championship in Sofia, and the victory over Portugal once again showcased one of the team's most serious weapons – the serve.
The Ukrainians applied serious pressure with their serve and finished with 8 aces against only 2 for Portugal. The effect is even more evident in the Portuguese reception – only 29% positive and 19% perfect. In the third set, their indicators dropped to 19% positive reception and 0% perfect.
| Indicator | Ukraine | Portugal |
|---|---|---|
| Aces | 8 | 2 |
| Service errors | 12 | 10 |
| Attack efficiency | 59% | 45% |
| Blocks | 5 | 5 |
| Positive reception | 59% | 29% |
| Perfect reception | 41% | 19% |
The numbers show where the big advantage came from. With an equal number of blocks, Ukraine built a lead with their serve and significantly more stable reception, which subsequently allowed for much higher efficiency in attack. This is already becoming a trend for the Ukrainian team in Sofia. The serve was among the decisive factors in the 3:1 victory over Bulgaria, when Oleh Plotnytskyi finished with 7 aces. Against Portugal, the pressure was distributed among more players, with Yanchuk recording the most direct points from serves – 3, and Plotnytskyi adding 2. Thus, for the second consecutive match, Ukraine showed that aggressive serving is not just an addition to their game, but one of the main mechanisms with which they disrupt the opponent's organization from the very first touch.
photo: cev.eu
