Prague, Czech Republic, May 23, 2014 – Top seeded Kristyna Kolocova and Marketa Slukova have all the reasons to be confident at the FIVB Beach Volleyball World Tour Prague Open. The Czech pair topped their pool with three straight wins and they have all the support of the large home crowd on centre court.
But the home team was not at all pleased with their performance in their last pool match against Thailand. Even though 2-0 might seem an easy victory to the fans, according to 26-year old defence player Kolocova it was their hardest game at the Prague Open so far and she had the set scores (24-22, 22-20) to prove it.
“Today we played the weakest game out of all three matches in our group. The Thailand team was pushing us.”
Varapatsorn Radarong and Tanarattha Udomchavee, who finished third in the group, were giving them a hard time, having three set balls in the first part. However the Czech team used the support of the home crowd and wrapped the set up at 24-22.
The Thai girls immediately took a 3-0 lead in the second set but Kolocova and Slukova fought back. The Czechs reached their first match point at 20-17. Radarong and Udomchavee resisted three match balls but had to cave in at 22-20.
Defence
Kolocova: “Our defence was not good in the beginning, but then we adjusted. In the middle parts of both sets we were doing well and fortunately we gathered some energy to finish strong.”
Kolocova and Slukova fulfilled their goal, which they set up before the tournament, by advancing from the pool. “We are really happy about the first spot in our group, it’s amazing. We can rest now and have a massage”, Kolocova said.
Russia or Sweden
The team they are going to play Saturday will come from the first elimination round match between Russia’s Syrtseva/Moiseeva or Grawender/Lundqvist from Sweden, which is scheduled for Friday afternoon.
“Tomorrow we might be fresh, but we can get a tough opponent. So right now, we are in anticipation of what awaits us”, Kolocova summarized.
At least they can count on the support of the Czech fans, who come to see their games in large numbers. “We are glad to have the home crowd backing us. We are really happy that they enjoy the games”, Slukova added.