POL - SCG 3:1 (25-14, 25-23, 23-25, 25-21)
Best scorers: Malgorzata Glinka (POL/29 points), Ivana Djerisilo (SCG/18 points)

Although Serbia & Montenegro managed to take a lead in both final sets, with a maximum seven point lead during the second set, the Poles came on strong in the deciding phases of the game, showing off their compact team skills. After taking the first set fairly clear (25-14) and coming back from trailing 7-14 in the second set, Malgorzata Glinka relieved her team at 23-23 with two kill blocks (25-23). Poland looked as if they were going to seize a straight set victory leading 22-19 in the third set. However, three blocks in a row, of which two by Serbia & Montenegro team captain Vesna Citakovic, levelled the score to 22-22. The underdogs blocked again successfully to gain the final two points of the set (25-23). The final fourth set was clear in favour of the defending champion (19-9, 23-18) with Dorota Swieniewicz spiking her team to the 3:1 success.
Head coach Zoran Terzic (SCG): “Poland proved that they are a strong team because they always aim to win no matter whether they have already qualified or not. Our quality is high enough to deserve a place within the first four of the pool. Considering that we are a young team our main aim is the European Championship 2007.”
Team captain Vesna Citakovic (SCG): “This is only our second time in a European Championship and I believe that in two years time our team will have grown much stronger, ready for the 2007 European Championship.”
Head coach Andrzej Niemczyk (POL): “We played great in the first set but then we fell asleep. I tried to prevent Agata Mroz a little because she is injured and replaced her with Sylwia Pycia in the second set, but substituted again in the third set. Due to these variations in the game we weren’t able to keep control of the match throughout.”
Team captain Aleksandra Przybysz (POL): “It was difficult to concentrate because we knew that we are already in the semifinal.”

GER - ROM 3:1 (20-25, 25-18, 25-21, 25-17)
Best scorers: Mirjela Corjeutanu (ROM/19 points), Christiane Fürst (GER/17 points)

Whilst the final pool encounter against Romania was no longer of significance for the 2003 bronze medallist Germany, who disappointingly lost all four previous matches, Romania was still in for a chance of securing third respectively fourth position, depending on the result of the later scheduled encounter between Azerbaijan and Croatia. But Romania didn’t take their chance facing an eager German team who was happy to finish the competition with a victory. Although they lost the first set 20-25, the Germans realised a high percentage of attacks, especially from the outside position which wasn’t as successful the day before.
Team captain Carmen Alida Marcovici (ROM): “We missed our chance to qualify for the first eight and gave Germany their first victory.”
Head coach Florin Grapa (ROM): “We played worse following the win of the first set. My players didn’t expect the young German team to play so well.”
Team captain Angelina Grün (GER): “It’s very good for the morale of the team to leave this competition successfully.”
Head coach Hee Wan Lee (GER): “It was a very exciting game but finally we won because we played more varied and the outside hitters were in good shape.”
 

AZE - CRO 3:0 (25-23, 25-16, 25-22)
Best scorers: Natalya Mammadova (AZE/17 points), Katarina Barun (CRO/12 points)

Azerbaijan started more convincing even though the over 5’000 spectators applauded for the other side, taking a 2:0 lead. This already meant their qualification for the semifinal stage where they will meet Italy (first ranked from Pool II). Croatia resisted in the third set leading all the way up until 20-17 when Azerbaijan turned the tables 23-21, finally seizing the 3:0 victory.
Head coach Ivica Jelic (CRO): “Azerbaijan had an excellent defense not allowing us to break through. Although our desire to win was great we weren’t able to repeat our good performance from yesterday. We played as good as the opponent allowed us to play.”
Team captain Alla Hasanova (AZE): “Both teams were equally nervous as the result of the match decided on the last semifinalist, but fortunately we managed to win and get through.”

NED - ESP 3:0 (25-23, 25-20, 25-22)
Best scorers: Francien Huurman (NED/12 points), Elena Garcia Marquez (ESP/11 points)

Spain dominated the beginning of the match, mainly thanks to several errors by the Dutch offense. However, the Spaniards didn't manage to close the set at 23-23, finally losing 23-25. In the second set Dutch head coach Avital Selinger positions Janneke Van Tienen on serve and defense helping the Netherlands to gain important points of difference, finally taking the set 25-20. The third set belonged to the Dutch team with the Spaniards increasingly accumulating mistakes.
Head coach Aurelio Urena Espa (ESP): "I'm pretty satisfied with our performance today. We had a plan which we stuck to until the very end of the set. The Netherlands are physically stronger than us and also have more experience."
Head coach Avital Selinger (NED): "We had to win this match. Although Spain did very well tactically and stood strong in defense, both teams made too many unforced errors, thus the quality of the match wasn't the best."

ITA - RUS 3:2 (22-25, 25-14, 25-16, 14-25, 15-12)
Best scorers: Ekaterina Gamova (RUS/22 points), Elisa Togut (ITA/19 points)

In the fight for position one in Pool II Russia took the first set, but the second set is in Italian hands (25-14) with Russia committing many mistakes in reception as well as in attack. Antonella Del Core who hasn't played much due to injury problems refreshed the Italian game with the Azzuri continuing to play smart and dominate in every element of the game (25-16). The Russian machinery celebrated a big come back in the fourt set though where Italy experienced major problems in receiving. The final fifth set decider went to Italy who consequently finished first in Pool II ahead of Russia.
Head coach Marco Bonitta (ITA): "When there are two good teams playing each other it's difficult to control the score and to analyse the difference in the game. It is nice to know that we will play the semifinal against the second positioned from Pool I."
Head coach Giovanni Caprara (RUS): "Italy performed better today. We missed too many spikes and didn't dig enough balls."

TUR - BUL 3:1 (20-25, 25-14, 25-19, 25-23)
Best scorers: Antonina Zetova (BUL/27 points), Natalia Hanikoglu (TUR/22 points)

Turkey have qualified for the classification matches 5-8 after they beat Bulgaria 3:1 in the final match of Pool II. Although Bulgaria started off convincingly winning the first set 25-20, Turkey didn’t give up conquering the second set 25-14 and the third 25-19. Turkey went ahead in the fourth and had the better answer when Bulgaria managed to catch up to 16-16, finally capturing the 3:1 victory, opening their journey to Zagreb.

On Friday the teams will have opportunity to rest previous to the Final Four weekend in Zagreb from 24th to 25th September 2005.

Women’s Indesit European Championship 2005
Preliminary Pool Round in Zagreb and Pula, Croatia (all times CET)

Match Results and Schedule

Preliminary Pool I in Zagreb (CRO)

Preliminary Pool I Ranking

1. Poland 10 (15:4), 2. Azerbaijan 9 (12:5), 3. Croatia 7 (8:10), 4. Serbia & Montenegro 7 (9:12), 5. Romania 6 (7:13), 6. Germany 6 (6:12)

Preliminary Pool II in Pula (CRO)

Preliminary Pool II Ranking

1. Italy 10 (15:3), 2. Russia 9 (14:6), 3. Netherlands 7 (11:10), 4. Turkey 7 (7:10), 5. Bulgaria 7 (7:11), 6. Spain 5 (1:15)

Final Four in Zagreb (CRO)

For further information please view www.cev.lu and www.wsech-cro.hr.