Women’s European Olympic Qualification Tournament 2008:Russia, Poland, Serbia as well as host Germany to fight for the ticket to Beijing

Women’s European Olympic Qualification Tournament 2008
HALLE (GER), 18 January 2008 – On the last day of the main phase in the Women’s European Olympic Qualification Tournament 2008 in Halle/Germany, Poland (3:1 against Turkey) as well as host Germany (1:3 versus Nederland) secured the last two spots of tomorrow’s semifinals. A set win was enough for Germany to book their ticket to the final four.

The German national team have reached the semifinals of the Women’s European Olympic qualification Tournament in Halle/Westphalia and maintained their chances of earning a ticket to the Olympic Games. In front of a lively crowd of nearly 9,000 fans, Giovanni Guidetti’s team have lost against the Netherlands, but the set win was enough to book their ticket to the final four. None other than the World Champions Russia now lie in wait (Saturday 17:30, live on Eurosport).

World Champions Russia have won the eagerly-anticipated top game against European Championships runners-up Serbia. After a dramatic contest, the Russians won 3:1 (25-17, 23-25, 32-30, 25-20) to qualify for the semi-finals as group winners. When the World Champion faces the European Championships runners-up, then world class sport comes guaranteed, and that was also the case at the final Group A fixture between Russia and Serbia. Powerful serves as well as sensational interventions both in defense and attack made this a real spectacle for the fans.

The Russians were ahead from the very beginning of the first set (8-3, 10-7, 16-13, 21-16) and Merkulova clinched it by the score of 25-17. Serbia dealt with Russia’s high blocking better in the second set and, after an excellently worked attack, they led 6-10. The lead was eaten into only slightly as Serbian’s Ognjenovic ensured they remained 16-18 ahead with two effective dummies. After a misunderstanding between Ognjenovic and Citakovic, Russia were back on terms at 21 each, but they could not take the next step and Russia’s superstar Shashkova, of all people, failed with the decisive ball (23-25).

It remained dramatic and balanced into the third set. As the Russians appeared to be in control of the lead, Serbia leveled for the first time at 20-20. With the score at 22-24, Serbia looked to even be on course to win the set, but they missed both of these as well as another set point. Russia did not fare much better either and let four chances to win the set go before a mistake by Ognjenovic ended it as her dummy did not quite clear the net (32-30). Russia went 5-2 ahead in the fourth set and maintained their three-point lead through two time-outs (16-13). After a successful block against Nikolic and further points from Kulikova, Russia moved ominously towards victory (19-14). It was left to Kulikova to win the final point and, with it, the match (25-20).

Earlier today, two-times European Champion Poland defeated Turkey 3:1 to conclude the group stage with an unbeaten record. Turkey, on the other hand, are out of the competition. The Polish team hit the ground running with the jump serves of Gajgal forming the foundations for a quick 4-0 lead.

After a spike by Skowronska, the score at the first called time-out was already 8-2. A series of service winners from Gümüs allowed the outsiders to close in to 8-6, and moments later, Turkey were even ahead with Gümüs twice blocking to take the score to 11-12. Skowronska’s diagonal attacks were the key to Poland regaining the lead (16-15) and they held onto the advantage with the score reaching 24-23, only for Turkey to successfully defend the first and second set point. With the score at 24-25, Turkey were within touching distance of claiming the set, but Gümüs failed with an attempted block. Turkey were able to take their third set point - Özsoy sank a winner down the line to make it 27-29. Poland’s setter Sadurek ensured an equally bright start to the second set with her serves leading to a 7-3 advantage. This was extended further thanks to a high-pressure service game and a high block (15-7).

This time, the favorites were not going to be knocked off track and they levelled the match with Gajgal winning the set for them (25-16). Following a block by Baranska, Turkey coach Alessandro Chiappini took an early time-out with the score at 4-1. His words did not appear to have made any difference straight away as they fell 8-4 behind, but as Baranska failed several times to a Turkey block, the Turks closed in to 8-7. Anna Podolec entered the fray and scored immediately (11-8). The Polish attack was beginning to gain momentum and they increased their lead to 14-9, but Turkey did not throw in the towel and fought their way back into the tie at 21-20, and even drew level following a block from Hakyemez on Skowronska at 22-22.

There was a dramatic conclusion to the set with Poland failing to take their first two set points, and Turkey missing theirs too. Only a diagonal attack from Glinka allowed Poland to celebrate, and send head coach Marco Bonitta sinking to his knees in joy (28-26). The fourth set painted a similar picture to the previous sets with Poland again quicker out of the blocks (7-3) before Turkey fought back (8-7). After Skovronska hit wide, PolandŽs coach Bonitta took a time-out with the score at 9-11.

The Italian coach took several players out with Skorupa, Rosner and Liktoras all coming on to lead a surge to level at 15-15. An ace from Baranska took Poland ahead once again (16-15) and a further ace from Skorupa extended their lead to 22-19. That was enough as Poland secured their 25-20 victory thanks to an error by Bal to seal top spot in the group and qualify for the semi-finals.

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