European Championship-2023. Playoffs. 1/4 of the final

September 11 (Monday)

Slovenia - Ukraine - 3:1 (25:17, 31:29, 21:25, 25:23)

The starting line-up of the national team of Ukraine: Plotnytskyi (scored 21 points), Synytsia (2), Semeniuk (7), Shchurov (9), Kovalov (11), Tupchii (19), Boiko (l). Substitutes: Yevstratov (0), Kucher (1), Poluian (0).

Head coach: Ugis Krastinš.

Starting line-up of the national team of Slovenia: Urnaut (scored 12 points), Čebul (17), Možić (12), Ropret (0), Pajenk (8), Kozamernik (12), Kovacić (libero). Substitutes: Mujanovych (2), Stern (0).

Head coach: Gheorghe Crețu.

From the opening minutes of the meeting, our opponent completely controlled the course of the match. And already in the middle of the set, the Slovenians had a significant advantage (16:10), which they managed to keep until the end of the set - 17:25.

But the second set turned out to be incredibly interesting and intriguing. There was an even game on the court (7:7 - 18:18 - 24:24). Both teams showed high-quality play. However, the number of errors made by the Ukrainians was slightly higher than that of the volleyball players of the Slovenian national team - 29:31.

However, two consecutive defeats in sets did not upset the "blue-yellow", on the contrary, they charged even more for the fight. The Slovenians took the lead (3:6), but Oleh Plotnytskyi and his partners quickly eliminated the opponent's advantage (8:8). And then gradually, thanks to the game on the block and powerful, and most importantly, error-free attacks, they took the lead (10:8 - 17:12). And then the courage of Ukraine, the confusion and mistakes of Slovenia and 25:21 in favor of the wards of Ugis Krastinš.

In the next episode, our team was charged with repeating the success of the previous set (8:8 – 13:9). Oleh Plotnytskyi confidently led the team forward, and Vasyl Tupchii powerfully attacked up until exhaustion (22:22). However, the Ukrainians could not withstand the pressure of a famous rival. 23:25 and 1-3 in the end.

The Ukrainians finished their participation in the European Championship 2023, having entered the Top-8 teams of the continent and repeating their success from 2019.

In the semi-finals, which will take place on September 14 in Rome, Slovenia will meet the winner of the Poland-Serbia match.