Israel Men’s Volleyball Team Beats Norway in Five Sets, Faces Sweden Next

Israel’s men’s volleyball team earned a dramatic 3-2 win over Norway in the European League on Friday night, rallying after blowing a two-set lead. Israel took the match 18-25, 17-25, 25-17, 25-23, 10-15, and finished with two points after dropping one point in the standings.

Mark Rura led Israel with 26 points and Shay Liberman added 24. The team controlled the first two sets, then Norway fought back to force a decider. In the fifth set, after falling behind 5-4, Israel scored five straight points, with Slava Bchkala serving during the run, to go up 9-5 and close out the set 15-10.

Coach Itamar Stein praised the squad after the match, saying, “This team is young, but very mature mentally.” He said Norway applied “tremendous pressure” in serve receive and serving in the third and fourth sets, but he was pleased the team regrouped and “won an important victory.” He added that a loss would have been “very disappointing.”

Stein also stressed the group’s chemistry and long-term goals, saying the team is in his fourth year with the national side and that the players are “very connected.” He said the aim is to reach the Final 4 and qualify for another European Championship. Israel now plays Sweden in Starymitsa on Sunday, and Stein called Sweden stronger than Norway, noting recent wins over Greece and Spain. In the women’s competition, Israel lost 3-0 to Slovakia, 25-19, 25-20, 25-16, with Valery Gmanovich scoring 17 points and Shiral Janach 9.