The Romanian national team dramatically qualified for the quarterfinals of the European Men’s Volleyball Championship – CEV EuroVolley 2023, on Friday evening, in Varna, after defeating Croatia 3-2 (25-17, 25-20, 17-25, 26-28, 15-12), write Agerpres.
The tricolors won after more than two hours of play (2h 13 min), in a match in which they showed fluctuations in form, but also the power to recover. Romania’s team was 2-0 in sets, but was tied, 2-2, although it led 24-23 in the fourth set.
The team coached by Sergiu Stancu dominated the tiebreak, leading 6-2, tied 8-8, but prevailed 15-12. Alexandru Rata, with 30 points, was the MVP of the Romanian team, Robert Adrian Aciobanitei contributed 16 points, Robert Calin added 13 points, Marian Bala – 10, and Bela Bartha – 10. The best Croatian players were Petar Dirlic (29 p), Marko Sedlacek (14) and Tino Hanzic (11).
Romania will play on September 11 in the quarterfinals, against the winner between France and Bulgaria (Friday, Varna, 20:30). Romania defeated France, the reigning Olympic champion, in the group, 3-1. Romania has not been among the top eight teams of the continent for 40 years, after finishing in 8th place in 1983.
The European Championship is taking place in Israel, Italy, Bulgaria, North Macedonia, from August 28 to September 16. Romania ranked 21st in the previous edition of the European Championship in which they participated, in 2019. The tricolors’ record includes a European title in 1963, two silver medals (1955, 1958) and two bronze medals (1971, 1977).
