Relief in Gislaved

After four straight losses, Gislaved VK takes a win.

GVK-coach Daniel Magnusson leaned against the bleachers.

He could afford to relax a little.

Finally?

"This is wonderful. We are incredibly pleased. We've been so close," says Magnusson after 3-0 victory (25-19, 29-27, 26-24) against Amager from Denmark.

GVK has believed in themselves. Now everyone else gets their proof.

Gislaved can win in the Öresund League.

"We received a confirmation that we are on the right path. The girls believe in each other, they think of us as a team and I believe in them and know that we have put in the effort. We have tried to look at what we can develop and not just to look at what does not work, points-wise."

Against Amager, the home team attacked with a more varied offense, both in the center and on the edges.

And when the win hangs in the balance, the team showed that they believe in their game.

"It was a step forward."

And when the team took a step backwards, Magnusson reminded them what to do.

At the end of the third and final set, the team trailed 20-21, and it looked like they were on the verge of a loss.

Then head coach Daniel Magnusson took a time out:

"We talked about that we must dare to win. We can not wait for their mistakes. We must take upon ourselves a winning attitude."

It does not sound easy, but that was how it looked.

Right after the timeout the team stepped back on the court and dared to win. They went for the victory, believed in it and closed the match.

"We are so good that we can do that, but the challenge is to do it more often. If we continue to evolve, we are a team that can go far."

At the end of each set, GVK stepped back and decided to win. Especially Hanna Salomäki.

"She was really good today. We make some good substitutions, who also did a great match."

It was a real team victory.

But Jessika Lakatos and Meghan Sherman deserve additional praise. The latter especially; she played with a foot injury.

"It does not show much now, but tonight just may have been the key." Magnusson smiled.