Portugal with new blood in the women’s European Silver League – Volleyball

The team faces Luxembourg (May 17) and Finland (18)

The injection of new blood, with the call-up of under-20 and under-22 players, marks the call announced today by coach Hugo Silva, for Portugal’s participation in the European Silver League (ESL) volleyball.

Portugal makes its debut in the competition in Tournament 2, in the Finnish city of Tampere, against Luxembourg (May 17th) and Finland (May 18th), while the Luxembourgish and Finnish teams meet on May 16th.

The twins Joana and Mariana Garcez, Marisa Pardal and Alice Clemente (Benfica) and Ana Rui Monteiro (FC Porto) are the athletes from the under-20 and under-22 teams, already qualified for the respective European championships, called up to the main .

“The big challenge, from now on, will be to consolidate once and for all a young team, capable of, in an extended period of time, giving us guarantees of fighting for all the events included and quickly moving up to competitions that value and project these athletes”, said Hugo Silva.

The selector considers that, “with the entry of this youth, with their inherent patience and with the contribution of all those involved, conditions are created for a wave of enthusiasm around the women’s team, thus boosting the energy necessary for success”.

“It will be a long period of competitions and training, with many of the athletes sacrificing themselves in four months of tough and difficult battles, but which will certainly make us grow and thus make all the dedication for our country worth it”, he assured.

Hugo Silva promises to fight for first place, although noting that the group is young and needs patience to grow, especially because they will have complicated opponents, such as Bosnia-Herzegovina, who came from the Golden League, and Montenegro.

Santo Tirso will host Tournament 6, from May 24th to 26th, in which Portugal will face Iceland and Montenegro, and Tournament 9 will take place in Bosnia-Herzegovina, from May 31st to June 2nd, with the host team and Montenegro again .

The ESL final will be played over two games (home and away) on June 13th and 16th and the winner will compete in the 2025 European Golden League.

List of 14 called up:

– Distributors: Ana Figueiras (Leixões) and Mariana Garcez (Benfica).

– Liberos: Joana Resende (FC Porto) and Matilde Calado Rodrigues (PV/Col.Efanor).

– Opposites: Júlia Kavalenka (Talmassons, Ita) and Maria Reis Lopes (FC Porto).

– Zones 4: Ana Rui Monteiro (FC Porto), Alice Clemente (Benfica), Margarida Maia (Vitória de Guimarães) and Marisa Pardal (Benfica).

– Central players: Amanda Cavalcanti (Sporting), Joana Garcez (Benfica), Kátia Oliveira (Clube K) and Raissa Cassamá (Vitória de Guimarães).

By Lusa