Marketa Slukova and Kristyna Kolocova enjoying this fabulous moment
(Source photo : FIVB.org)
Marketa Slukova and Kristyna Kolocova recorded the biggest result of their career when they knocked out fifth seeds Maria Antonelli and Talita Antunes with a 21-16, 20-22, 15-9 win that takes them into the quarter-finals of the London 2012 Olympic Games at Horse Guard’s Parade.
Maria Antonelli opened scoring and for the rest of the first set the teams matched each other point for point until the Czechs pulled away as the first set drew to a close. In the early stages of the second set the Brazilians were unable to deal with the Czech players’ movement and agility around the court, but they used their experience to catch them on the scoreboard.
However, Slukova and Kolocova refused to give up and they saved one match point before a powerful Maria Antonelli serve won the second set. The third set began the same way when the Czechs built up their lead early on and while Talita and Maria Antonelli tried to fight back, the Czechs had done enough to keep them at arm’s length and win the match.
“We were so happy to get through the pool and get a 16th place finish,” Slukova said. “We’ve never beaten this team and it is just great to be at the Olympics. She (Kristyna) played amazing in the pool play and I knew that it was my turn and I had to take over because she wasn’t feeling well today. »