The Israeli team recorded an important victory tonight (Friday), 2: 3 in sets against its Austrian counterpart in the European Championship qualifiers, with all the Israeli home games taking place in Israel.
Noam Katz’s players arrived after two losses (to Bulgaria and Austria) and knew that any result other than a victory would finally eliminate their chance of finishing in second place and qualifying for the next stage.
Celebrating. Players of the Israeli volleyball team
(Photo: Volleyball Association)
The first set was balanced, but in the end Israel won it with 21:25. The Austrians equalized with 20:25 in the second set.
The third set was the closest of them all – the team took a small lead, but the Austrians managed to equalize to 24:24. Slava’s Kill Block in Chekla gave the team the victory in the battle. Austria came back with 20:25 in the fourth set and both teams went for a short and decisive set.
Israel started with a quick 0: 3, managed to maintain its advantage and two important points by Tamir Hershko closed a story in the campaign and in the entire game with 11:15.
Tomorrow Bulgaria will play Austria. A Bulgarian victory will stabilize Israel with a small chance of qualifying – but to do so it will have to overcome the strong Bulgarians on Sunday.
Noam Katz: “I am satisfied with the victory, but you have to understand that you need patience. I am so satisfied with our work, we improve from game to game, our players were under pressure, I take my hat off to the players who despite the first losses remained solid as a team. “And when we play against European teams, it takes our players to get used to the level.”