Israeli women on brink of advancing in World qualifiers

Israel's men's national volleyball team no longer has its fate in its own hands after losing 3-2 in Sheffield on Saturday.

By ALLON SINAI
volleyball (photo credit: Courtesy)
volleyball
(photo credit: Courtesy)
Israel's men's national volleyball team no longer has its fate in its own hands after losing 3-2 to Belarus in the World Championship qualifying tournament in Sheffield on Saturday. The side defeated Great Britain 3-1 in its first qualifier on Friday, however Saturday's loss means that Israel needs the Brits to stun Belarus in the final qualifier of the pool on Sunday to have any chance of progressing. Only the winner of three team pool advances to the second round of matches to be played in Slovakia in May. "Mistakes in the fourth set denied us the victory against Belarus," Israel coach Avishai Karpovski said. "We have a young team which I hope will record better results in the future." Israel was six points from victory in the fourth set, leading 19-17, but the Belarussians won eight of the last 11 points and tied the match. Belarus seized the initiative at the start of the decisive set and can clinch its place in the second round with a win on Sunday. Israel's women's team needs to take just a single set in Sunday's match against Great Britain to advance to the second round of the World Championships qualifiers in Azerbaijan in May. The side, which defeated Montenegro 3-0 on Friday, claimed a second consecutive straight-set victory against Portugal on Saturday and should have no problem booking its place in the second round of qualifiers on Sunday.