Czech teams dominate the Middle European Championship
Kranj hosted the Middle European Beach Volleyball Championship under MEVZA association for the second time. In a record competition of 61 registered teams from 7 countries, Slovenian players Tajda Lovšin and Tjaša Kotnik won the championship title on the women’s side, while Matyas Jezek and Adam Waber of the Czech Republic sailed all the way from qualifications to gold on the men’s side. Czechs dominated the tournament, winning all three men’s medals and the bronze medal for women.
The beach volleyball tournament, which traditionally delights the summer crowd in the center of Kranj, counted for the second consecutive year as the Middle European Beach Volleyball Championship. A record number of 61 registered teams from Slovakia, Czech Republic, Hungary, Austria, Cyprus, Israel, and Slovenia competed for the title of Central European champions. Slovenia was represented by five teams after many cancellations due to illness and injuries. Four teams were eliminated before the quarter-finals, while Tajda Lovšin and Tjaša Kotnik justified their top-seed status and won the gold medal to the great delight of the home crowd.
Their journey through most of the tournament was smooth, as they did not lose a single set. In the semifinals, however, they had to show their qualities in an almost lost situation and made an incredible comeback against the Czech pair Lorenzova/Černá. “We managed something almost impossible. In the final stages of the decisive third set, we were already 5 points behind a very strong Czech team, but we came back and made it to the final,” commented Tjaša Kotnik. In the final, they faced the title defender, Austrian Kathi Holzer, with her new partner Magdalena Rabitsch, in front of full stands. The Austrian representatives were more successful in the first set, but then the best Slovenians focused and convincingly won the next two sets with 21:12 and 15:5. “In the second and third sets, my serve was simply on point, and Tjaša excelled in blocking. We are very happy with this victory, especially because, similar to the semi-final, we successfully recovered from a deficit. Competing in Kranj has always been close to my heart, and we are very pleased with the title of Middle European champions,” added Tajda Lovšin. Magdalena Černá and Andrea Lorenzova of the Czech Republic secured the bronze medal in a match against the Hungarian sisters Vasvári, who eliminated second seeds Nyström/Gusarova of Cyprus in the quarterfinals. »We did it! After finishing fourth last year, we were hungry for more and we managed to improve our achievement. We hope to see you again next year,« said Černá.
We are very happy with this victory, especially because, similar to the semi-final, we successfully recovered from a deficit. Competing in Kranj has always been close to my heart, and we are very pleased with the title of Middle European champions.
The men’s part of the tournament was dominated by the Czechs as they won all three medals. Such an outcome was not expected by anyone, especially since both finalist teams were not seeded and advanced to the main part of the tournament through the qualifiers. Matyas Jezek and Adam Waber lost the first set of the final against compatriots Jan Mrkous and Frantisek Pihera, but then returned with an extremely determined defensive play and celebrated with a 2:1 win in sets. “We are extremely happy with the victory and the success of all Czech teams, which showed really outstanding volleyball at the Middle European Championship in Kranj. The final match was a special experience and the atmosphere was incredible, regardless of the fact that all competitors were foreigners,” rejoiced Matyas Jezek. Second seeded Tomas Semerad and Adam Stocek seemed untouchable right until the semifinals, where they were bested by Mrkous/Pihera in three sets. In the bronze medal match, they refocused to take the win away from Slovaks Nemec/Petruf and complete the Czech claim of the podium.
The tournament organizers were extremely satisfied with the attendance and the displayed volleyball. “The Slovenian teams had some bad luck with injuries and illnesses, but the attendance and atmosphere at the evening matches were still unforgettable. In the men’s final, two foreign pairs fought, which is generally a challenge for the fan atmosphere, but the Kranj and wider Slovenian audience proved that they appreciate the top-level beach volleyball. Cheering, stomping, standing up, and Mexican waves… one would almost not know that since the quarterfinals, there were no home men’s teams on the field. The women’s final, of course, was a class of its own, as Tjaša and Tajda provided a real treat and a comeback story. The response from the audience, which numbered over 5.000 people in four days, makes our work worthwhile, and we will continue to strive to raise the level of the traditional summer beach volleyball tournament in Kranj,” said tournament director Sašo Rop.
The response from the audience, which numbered over 5.000 people in four days, makes our work worthwhile, and we will continue to strive to raise the level of the traditional summer beach volleyball tournament in Kranj.
