Victory was within reach, but Slovenia leaves with a strong impression

Slovenia came within a few points of a European Championship upset before the Netherlands ended its run with a 3-2 victory in the round of 16.

The Slovenians recovered after falling behind 2-1 in sets and forced a deciding fifth set by winning the fourth 31-29. The Netherlands, bronze medallists at the previous European Championship, then used its experience to win the decider 15-9.

Lorena Lorber Fijok led Slovenia’s attack, while 20-year-old Maša Pucelj also earned praise for her bold performance. Naturalized star Nene Sillah worked hard but struggled to find an effective attacking solution.

Slovenia had already met its stated goal by reaching the knockout stage. The team’s summer also included success in the European League and a silver medal, followed by strong performances at the championship in Turkey. The women’s campaign now ends, with attention turning to Slovenia’s men, who begin their defense of the European bronze from Rome 2023 the following week.