Croatian women’s volleyball team win European Golden League silver medal

Croatia wins the silver medal (Photo: Hrvatski odbojkaški savez)

VARAŽDIN, 23 June 2019 – The Croatian women’s volleyball team has won the silver medal in the CEV Volleyball European Golden League which was held in Varaždin.

The Croatian team lost last night’s final to the Czech Republic 1-3 (25-18, 15-25, 22-25, 22-25). 

The final started well for the Croatians, when a series of points from Lea Deak helped the hosts stretch the lead to 12-6. Croatia led by 9 points at one stage in the set and eventually took it out 25-18. 

Croatia started the second set well but the Czechs went on a run of points to lead 20-10 before levelling the match 1-1 by taking the set 25-15. In the third set Croatia had the lead at 18-14 but 7 straight points saw the hosts get back in front and hold on 25-22 to take a 2-1 lead. 

The Croatians had control again in the fourth set, leading 21-17 at one stage. The Czechs, who claimed their second ever gold medal, came back again to take the set and the match. 

“We were doing unnecessary mistakes in important moments of the game, which cost us the victory in the end. It’s hard to explain our performance, there were moments when we played great and then we didn’t play at all. Then we were making a comeback to start losing again… Perhaps we need more experience. We are a young group and I think we gave our best. Unfortunately it wasn’t enough against Czech Republic,” Karla Klaric, outside-spiker of Croatia said after the match.

(Photo: Hrvatski odbojkaški savez)

The silver medal means Croatia will now travel to Peru to compete in the 2019 FIVB Volleyball Women’s Challenger Cup in a bid to join the FIVB Volleyball Nations League next year.