Čeští volejbalisté vypadli na ME v osmifinále s Belgií

The Czech men’s national volleyball team was eliminated from the European Championship in the round of 16 after a 1-3 loss to Belgium in Turin. The Czech side won the opening set 25-20, but subsequently lost the following three sets 24-26, 14-25, and 15-25.

Head coach Jiri Novak attributed the defeat to a lack of consistency and a decline in performance following the first set. Novak noted that while the team demonstrated the ability to play at a high level, they struggled to maintain that standard throughout the match, particularly regarding their attack and reception. The Czech team concluded the tournament with a record of three wins and three losses.

Belgian opposite hitter Ferre Reggers led the match with 24 points, proving difficult for the Czech defense to contain as the game progressed. For the Czech team, Lukas Vasina and captain Patrik Indra each recorded 14 points. Indra, who had been managing back issues during the tournament, was substituted by Marek Sotola in the fourth set.

Novak highlighted that the team failed to replicate the success of last year’s world championship, where they achieved a fourth-place finish. He emphasized that the squad needs more consistent performances and noted that many players lacked significant playing time in their respective clubs during the previous season, which impacted their readiness for the continental championship.

The match was attended by approximately 1,021 spectators. The Czech team, which finished fourth in their group, had previously secured victories against Greece, Sweden, and Slovakia, but fell to Italy, Slovenia, and finally Belgium.

Article and image source: ceskenoviny.cz