The Slovakia Volleyball Federation held a press conference to announce the preparations of the team and the organisation of the Group 3 Finals of the FIVB Volleyball World League 2015
Bratislava, Slovakia, June 4, 2015 – Slovakia Volleyball Federation president Lubor Halanda, national team coach Flavio Gulinelli and captain Michal Masny were present at a press conference on Thursday, exactly one month before the start of the Group 3 Finals of the FIVB Volleyball World League 2015.
Slovakia will participate in the World League for the second year and will play in Group G along with China, Mexico and Greece. Slovakia will also host the Group 3 Finals in the capital city of Bratislava, which will be one of the year’s biggest sports events in the country.
Slovakia captain and setter Masny, who plays for Polish club Jastrzebski Wegiel, is the most experienced player with 200 international caps. Masny won two CEV European League titles, played in four European Championships, won a CEV Champions League bronze medal, but has never played any matches in the World League.
“I am looking forward to collect new experience in such a great competition like the World League,” 35-year-old Masny said. “Our goal is to win the Finals in Bratislava to advance to Group 2 next year. We will give our best when we play in Mexico and Greece, and we look forward to play in front of our fans in Bratislava. Opponents like China and Mexico are new for me as this will be my first time to play against them.”
Italian coach Flavio Gulinelli is aiding the Slovakian team for the second year.
“We are guaranteed as organisers of the (Group 3) Finals and we have a home in Bratislava, but we want to play our best volleyball in the group phase.” coach Gulinelli said. Wins are important for every team. This season is very interesting, we will start in the World League and later on we will participate in the CEV European Championship finals.”
Gulinelli will be fielding in his almost best team in the World League, only missing middle blocker Tomas Kmet and opposite Martin Nemec because of family reasons.
“We are happy to play in the World League again this season,” national federation president Halanda added. “Our goal is to win the Finals in Bratislava and to advance to Group 2. We are bringing a lot of effort in organisation of this big event and we hope that we will be successful. Our players are motivated to win the group and also the Finals. It will not be easy, it will be a challenge for us and we are looking forward to bring world volleyball to our capital city.”
The team will start with their three-week-long trip on Thursday to Germany for the final preparations, then will fly to Mexico and then to Greece.
“There is a long trip ahead of us,” middle blocker Emanuel Kohut said. “We hope that we will be successful away from home and we will return in good shape. We want to play our best volleyball in Bratislava and make our fans happy.”