GVK's exciting victory

Daniel Magnusson had a good feeling before the game.
It was even more beautiful after victory 

GVK- Svedala 3-1 (25-18, 21-25, 25-22, 25-23).

Gislaved is a small roller coaster-team.
But against Svedala, the team saw mostly highs. Long rallies in which they won, mixed with good serve game, and a red-hot Hanna Salomäki and defense giant in Jessica Lakatos.

Every so often this season, it has been the case where Gislaved lost the first set, won the second and then dropped the match with 1-3.

On Saturday, they reversed the trend.

GVK had 18-13 in the first set, Svedala keyed in to 18-17 before the home team pulled away and took the set with 25-18.

In the second set, Svedala returned the threat, and had as much as 9-19 lead. But after a fantastic serves from Ida Lindbäck and player substitutions Elin Andersson and Ebba Ekblad, GVK took six straight points that tweaked the numbers, but eventually fell 21-25.

The two teams exchanged points back-and-forth in an even battle for the remainder of the match. With the margins were on Gislaved's side this time, the team took much needed points towards the table that will surely help propel them in this spring's playoffs.

See Ester de Vries' interview with Värnamo Nyheter here: https://varnamonyheter.solidtango.com/video/de-vries-fortfarande-skadad

Gislaved almost fully healthy

The sickness-wave has passed.
GVK can - almost - put a full team on the court against Svedala this Saturday.

Only Meghan Sherman remains as questionable as the team prepares for Svedala

The team's two liberos are back after their illnesses.

"Friday at the training we were all that could be there except Ida (Lindbäck) which is in Gothenburg and Meghan (Sherman) who is at home with a cold that starts to drop," says coach Daniel Magnusson.

Sherman will be testing the morning practice on Saturday to see if she is playable or not. In addition, Ester de Vries to be ready to attack again after her mysterious shoulder injury.

Finger's crossed the laser works

"She has even taken a few swings during the week. I hope that Per Martinsson (physiotherapist) can do a good job on the morning workout with massage and run some laser treatment. Can we get Ester to attack, we become a little more of a threat at the net. At the same time, we have seen Hanna (Salomäki) really stepping up for the team," he says.

Gislaved is to face Svedala at home. A team that is fourth in the table with three points behind first place and with the Americans Mo Simmons and Chelsey Bettinson, ranking second and third in the points league respectively.

But Daniel Magnusson is still full of confidence.

Want to surprise

"I expect a pretty fun game. I have a good feeling in my body. It feels like a game where we could play good volleyball, then we will see if it is enough. I would not be surprised if we can beat Svedala tomorrow, but we must be humble to the task. It is about playing tough against their two attacking stars."

"They have a setter and middle who played together in college, so their connection is unbelievable. When they are in the front row, we must be sharp and press their setter out from the net."

The team hopes to succeed in a way that they tried in Tuesday's match against Engelholm, despite the 0-3 loss.

"There are some elements of the game where we must attack the deep and serve deep that forces our opponent into giving the worst possible conditions to attack. We also need to continue develop and utilize tougher serves."

Sick GVK had no chance

Gislaved has a tough entry to the match.
It was made even tougher on the court.

EVS - GVK, 3-0 (25-15, 25-16, 25-16).

Ten players were listed as doubtful for the game.

Four of them came after all the games with outside hitter Ester de Vries taking over as libero as Sofie Bäck and Jessica Lakatos were at home with illnesses.

However, setter Meghan Sherman continued to play with disease in the body.

"Had I had any other option, Meghan would not have played. She is not healthy right now," says coach Daniel Magnusson.

But there were no other choices. Defending champions Engelholm, along with Sports Prize Nominated Isabelle Haak, became overpowering.

"I've I'm being picky, then I'm not happy, but overall I am satisfied that we even were able to put together a team that can play," says Magnusson.

There was some stuff that Magnusson was not happy with. Among other things, that the girls did not get through Engelholm's blocks, which took twelve points, along with a weak service game from GVK.

"The serve is one area that no matter what, we should be able to challenge our opponent. There is a game, you against the ball. Which can be tougher."

The home team was superior, and the scores speak loudly, in which two sets were won by nine balls, and one set by ten points.

"Engelholm is way too good today. And then they used quite a lot of players. But we talked a lot about that we will take with us the warrior heart. The girls are frustrated and I understand that. But it gets a little lighter fluid before the Svedala match on Saturday."

Trouble for GVK starters

Engelholm is anything but easy.
It is not made easier when seven GVK players are sick.

All who are sick, raise your hand.
Mathilda Carlsson has a cold and is hesitant to start. Jessika Lakatos is sick with the flu.
Hannah Salomäki is one of the few GVK players who are healthy.

Elitserien's top team - away from home - is not an easy match up.

Especially not with seven players sick.

"We must dig through our tool box to find a solution," Coach Daniel Magnusson says with a solid list of the ailments.

Just look here:

Libero Jessika Lakatos is sick.

Second libero Sofie Back is sick.

Reserve setter Elin Andersson is sick.

Middle blocker Emina Bosno is sick.

Ida Lindbäck is expected to recover Sunday's 24-hour stomach flu.

Setter Meghan Sherman and Mathilda Carlsson both suffering from a cold.

Then, we have Ester de Vries with a shoulder impingement.

Lina Johansson is still not cleared to play.

And Joyce Akerlund is away with work.

"I've never seen anything like it ever. If it is a type of flu, and we have been careful to keep the players away from training when they felt that they had a virus on in the body. We have focused on allowing players to rest, drink, and eat properly. But this can not be steered away. It is extremely unfortunate that so many people become sick at the same time."

Engelholm beat series leader Hylte/Halmstad 3-1 Sunday. And Gislaveds VK forced to scrape together enough players to compete.

How then will GVK be able to win over Engelholm?

"It is a huge challenge. We're asking the players to use all their energy towards the match and not do anything else. I trust those I put on the court. We have to play good defense. We'll go out and run and give each other energy. We see it as a pretty damn fun challenge."

Debut as a superstar

17-year-old Ebba Ekblad shined in Gislaved VK's second straight win

Ebba Ekblad.
Add the name of the memory.
- What a fantastic debut, celebrates GVK-coach Daniel Magnusson.

Gislaved-Sollentuna 3-0 (25-18, 25-20, 25-18)

From Division 2 to Elitserien.

It may seem like a giant step - but apparently this was not the case.

At least not for Ebba Ekblad - a 17-year-old from Värnamo who, on Saturday, made her debut in the Elitserien with Gislaved VK. And what a debut it was.

We recorded nine points from Ebba including four aces and such poise that paved the way for GVK in the first set - a poise that made up for a comfortable victory and crowned Ebba's debut with the MVP.

GVK-coach Daniel Magnusson noted:

"What a fantastic debut. Ebba show showed incredible calmness and proved that she belongs at this level. Though I must admit I was a bit nervous before the match for Ebba's sake. It was no easy task trying to shoulder Ester De Vries' role. But Ebba did."

And Ebba was beaming with obvious joy after the game - but struggled to put into words the emotions:

"I do not really know what to say. I'm not so used to this situation," says Ebba with a smile.

Then it's just as well that Ebba get used to this, as it will probably not be the last time she will be in spotlight.

And finally:

"I was very nervous before the game, but then dropped it and I'm very happy. But it is not difficult to play well in this environment," says Ebba humbly.

GVK took their second-straight win after the winter break and Daniel Magnusson was really happy with the performance:

"We played really, really well, although Sollentuna was not as strong as I had imagined. They handed out many technical mistakes that gave us easy points."

"We still have a way to top shape. But we go to Ängelholm in the next round with some positive reinforcement behind us."

Attacker problems facing must-win match

Gislaved deals with player problems.

Mathilda Carlsson (10) may be one option to use on the outside.

Ester de Vries is a big question mark when looking at the GVK lineup.

Ester de Vries missed the last game with the GVK after a mysterious injury.

And she has not yet returned.

"The problem with Ester persists so, at this moment, I do not know if she is fit to play in the upcoming game. She has not been in training at all this week. It is a big question mark," says coach Daniel Magnusson.

We have seen that Gislaved struggles with some problems in the chart. But Magnusson is still relatively quiet.

"We're looking at some alternative solutions on how to set it up. Ebba Ekblad will be in the elite squad and a possible alternative is Pauline Adolfsson. We tested Mathilda Carlsson on the outside in the final set against Brøndby and it worked. There we can see another option. It is a bit puzzling, little thinking and a lot of different options."

Belief in the team, of course, is always there with GVK-coach.

"I trust our players 100%. We do not live or die with Ester, even if she has the most points. She would have been happy to be in top form on such a fun and important match."

Yes, the game. Sollentuna stands as the opposition. An equal opponent, when you look to the table. One who you have to beat to get a little better standing before the playoffs later in the spring.

"This match feels like a 50/50 match. Sollentuna has a pretty good upward curve and have gotten back two key players in a libero/outside, who started the season with Svedala, and opposite hitter Caroline Werner, who incidentally suddenly gone and become right-handed."

A familiar face can also show up in Gisle Sports Centre: Mikaela Larsson.

"She has played in just one set, but who knows, maybe she plays when they come to Gisle Hall. She has not been on their away games before, but maybe she will join because it is Gislaved."

Game-wise, if you want to go far.

"What we've been working on is to try to get our opponents further back in the court. To attack deeper. Moving them out from the net so they have to work hard to get the ball to an attacker."

"I expect a pretty long, time-consuming and energy-consuming match where I hope we can keep both our concentration and speed up. We should not be too eager and feel that we need to win fast and hard. Rather, try to fight every single ball and hope we get positions where we can go on to higher pace in attack."

Ekblad - on the other side

Earlier this week, Ebba Ekblad signed over to Gislaved VK. Now
The taunts started even before the match.

Ebba Ekblad, who until Christmas break played in Värnamo VBA, has now transferred over to Gislaved VK for the remainder of the season. She traveled with her old squad to the match played in Gislaved.

"Yes, the girls were joking the entire car journey," coach Inge Marie Ekblad, laughing lightly.

Otherwise there was not much to laugh about for Värnamo VBA.

It was run over by GVK who elisted their U20 team, many of whom train with the elitserien team.

"Most of the match was crap. Our girls were not happy, not one of them. It was a bit of a beating."