2014 CEV Volleyball European Championship - U19 WOMEN

San Marino opens home campaign with straight victory over Liechtenstein

by CEV

The hosts of San Marino top the charts of the U19 Women Small Countries Division Championship that got underway on Thursday in Serravalle. The home heroines could regroup after the sudden and premature death of Sammarinese Volleyball Federation Vice President Paolo Benvenuti to cruise to a straight victory (25-8, 25-18, 25-21) over Liechtenstein. Luxembourg claimed the “big match” of the opening day fighting for five sets to edge past Scotland (24-26, 25-16, 25-13, 24-26, 15-7). Liechtenstein had opened the tournament earlier in the afternoon by beating rookie Wales in straight sets (25-5, 25-13, 25-12). The competition will continue on Friday with another four matches and then come to a close on Saturday with the last three games on schedule.

Luxembourg vs. Scotland 3:2 (24-26, 25-16, 25-13, 24-26, 15-7)

The most anticipated match of the opening day – these teams are the major forces to reckon with for the gold medal that will be at stake on Saturday – was claimed by Luxembourg that had to fight for five sets before edging Scotland. The Scots set the pace of the game all the way through the opening set; Luxembourg could level the score at 23 all but the final 26-24 was eventually cashed by Scottish middle-blocker Mhairi Agnew (she finished the game with 21 points). The players mentored by Ranguel Krivov comfortably controlled the game in the second and third sets where Luxembourg displayed their full array of options in attack with opposite Léah Dickoff and wing-spikers Liz Beffort and Jil Bosquee bringing it home for the Grand Duchy. Scotland was able to keep the score tight in the fourth set where they eventually had the upper hand after another close finish. However, the course of the game flipped around once more in the tie-break where Luxembourg got off to a flying start (8:2) to pave the way for the final 15-7 and their 3:2 victory. Beffort top scored for Luxembourg with 22 points while Dickhoff chipped in with 20.

Standing

Today:

10.00:  LUX-SMR

14.00:  SCO-WAL

17.30:  LIE-LUX

20.30:  SMR-SCO

read more:  www.cev.lu