Czechia is one step closer to qualifying for the FIVB Women's VNL after advancing to the semifinals of the 2024 FIVB Women's Volleyball Challenger Cup.
World no. 16 Czechia is off to a strong start in the 2024 FIVB Women’s Volleyball Challenger Cup after breezing past world no. 17 Argentina in straight sets, 25-15, 25-22, 25-16, at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium in Manila on Friday, July 5.
Czechia became the third team to advance into the semifinals, after Belgium and Puerto Rico’s victory on Thursday.
Team captain Michaela Mlejnkova powered Czechia to victory with 13 points built on 12 attacks and one block. Gabriela Orvosova added 10 markers apiece.
After a dominant victory in the first set, the Czechs had to fight their way through a pesky Argentinian side led by Bianca Cugno and Candelaria Herrera.
In the third set, Czechia was off to another solid start after building an 8-4 lead behind Mlejnkova.
Argentina, though, showed their fighting spirit as they trimmed the lead to just a single point at 13-12.
But in the end, the Czechs proved too much, as Mlejnkova, along with the efforts of Magdalena Jehlarova and Helena Havelkova, put the finishing touches on the match.
Havelkova finished with nine points for Czechia, while Jehlarova added eight in the victory.
No Argentinian finished in double digits, with Herrera finishing as the top scorer for world no. 17 with just nine markers.
With the win, the Czechs will now await the winner between the Philippines and Vietnam later at 6:30 p.m.