Volleyball players from Bučovice were tormented by extra-league Lvi Praha. They also turned away a set ball
“Yes, overall I am very satisfied because we played two finals against a strong opponent. Even though the Lions had some changes in the line-up against the extra league, it is still extra league quality and there were still at least two Czech representatives on the pitch,” Zbyněk Čížek, coach and manager of the Falcons, summarized the match.
In addition, he also had to make several forced changes in the lineup. Experienced Ivo Kobolka and Josef Mlčúch dropped out at the last minute due to illness, and it was known in advance that guest players from Fatra Zlín would not be available.
Czech Cup
2nd round:
TJ Sokol Bučovice
– VK Lvi Prague 0:3
Sets: 21:25, 23:25, 24:26. Prague Lions advance.
Bučovice: Butcher, Neubauer, Minda, Kán, Kristián, Varous, Špelda (L). Trainers: Zbyněk Čížek, Jaroslav Vlk.
“But that doesn’t bother me. On the contrary, for the first time we were able to try the Slovakian youth representative, nineteen-year-old Adam Kán. He didn’t do badly in the universal. Patrik Minda moved in the opposite direction from the position of all-rounder to sweeper and scored quite a few points there. I think we played a good game. In the first set, we had to get a feel for the quality of competition, the extra league is of course faster, more vigorous and more winning. The second and third were already about something else, they were exactly the same. At 23:23 in the second set, the greater experience of the guests showed when the representative setter Jakub Janouch served well twice. I’m a little sorry that we didn’t score at least a set. In the third, our excellent performance graduated. At 24:23, we had a set ball, but the visitors made it 24:24 with a quality Janouch – McCarthy interplay in the middle of the net and again expertly guarded the end,” the Falcons’ coach described the course of the match.
The second round of the Czech Volleyball Cup is played for one match, so the professional extra-league favorite advances to the third, the Lions are currently the fourth team in the top league table. But it was a useful confrontation for the Bučovice Sokols first league team, which is fighting for the top of the second highest competition.
“In any case, it’s confidence. The players have convinced themselves that it is possible to play with anyone. Secondly, these are also valuable experiences for our young guys, because they had to go to any experience, to do the exchange absolutely to the fullest. For us coaches, there is also a benefit in the fact that we made some variability in the line-up towards the league and that the line-up held up. Of course, there were also things that we still need to polish, but overall I feel good,” said Čížek.
Together with their colleague Jaroslav Vlk, they can now devote themselves fully to the first league. It will resume on Friday, Saturday, October 21 and 22, after a one-week break. The Falcons will face the B teams of extra-league clubs Jihostroje České Budějovice and their cup conqueror. Both matches will be played on the opponent’s boards.
“Now we will mainly regenerate our strength, because the boys had a very demanding program and they really have had enough. Plus there are some injuries and illnesses. So I want everyone to finish their treatment in that week and for us to be in the strongest possible composition against difficult opponents,” added the coach of the Falcons.
Tomorrow, second division volleyball players TJ Holubice will play in the second round of the Czech Cup. From 6:00 p.m., they will face Fatra Zlín, also from the extra league, in the home hall.