Something incredible is happening behind the scenes of the sports arenas: our women's national volleyball team of Ukraine, led by the charismatic Ivan Petkov, is making final preparations for the Golden Euroleague 2024. The hearts of Ukrainian fans trembled in anticipation of future victories, because in only ten days our Amazons will step on the floor to defend their title of champions.

The first challenge: control matches with France

The first serious test for our national team was the control matches against the French national team. It was an excellent opportunity to assess the readiness of the team after the end of the season in the Super League and to try out new tactical inventions. The first match ended in favor of the French girls, but in the next game our girls showed their character, winning 3:2.

"It was very important for us to play against strong opponents and to see the condition of our players," Petkov shared.

Team composition: who will cause a storm of emotions

In preparation for the competition, the coaching staff invited 14 volleyball players to the meeting. Among them are linkers Daria Shargorodska and Viktoriya Oliynyk, central blockers Svitlana Dorsman and Diana Melyushkina, secondary players Evgenia Khober and Hanna Artyshuk, diagonal players Anastasia Kraydub and Oleksandra Milenko, as well as libero Khrystyna Nemtseva.

Training conditions: in search of optimal form

Preparation conditions of the team remain at a high level. After the test matches in France, the national team moved to Bulgaria, where three more test matches are to be held. This will be another test before the main battles, because the opponents will be teams from the highest division - national teams of Bulgaria and Belgium.

Trying to defend the title

The main goal of the team is to repeat last year's success. The composition of the national team was preserved, and the players became even more experienced. Ivan Petkov noted that they strive for the maximum result, and also want to give Ukrainians positive emotions in this difficult time.

The new format of the Golden Euroleague

This year, the Golden EuroLeague underwent changes in format. From now on, all 12 national teams will compete in one general tournament table, where each team will play 6 matches. The "Final Four" awaits the best four teams that will show the best performance in the group stage.

Schedule of matches: time to confirm the class

The Ukrainian national team will begin its journey in the Golden Euroleague in Estonia, where it will play against the Slovenian national team, and then against the local team. Next, matches await our girls in Schwechat (Austria) and Tarnów (Poland), where they will meet the national teams of Slovakia, Austria, the Czech Republic and Belgium. Each match is a step towards confirming the status of champions and an opportunity to give victory to your country.

Editor: Emilia Morozova