The men’s volleyball team of Ukraine impressed the whole world with its performance in the second round of the League of Nations. Our team beat the third in the world ranking Brazilians (3:1)then defeated the reigning world champions Italians (3:0). In the third match in three days, the Ukrainians pressed Canadians (3:1).
In the match against Italy, 21-year-old diagonal Oleksandr Boyko, who spent the previous season in the Italian team of Vibo Valentia, made his debut for our national team. The young volleyball player scored 3 points in this match, and in the next match against Canada, he scored a set point in the first game.
Champion contacted the talented player, asking about the details of Oleksandr’s debut and the atmosphere in the national team’s locker room.
– Share your emotions from the team’s brilliant performance in Slovenia. Has the team fully believed in victories over the world’s top players?
– We can beat world giants, we know how to do it. All of us, of course, are happy that we were able to show what we are capable of.
– You played for the national team for the first time, scoring points with both Italy and Canada. How would you rate your debut? What were the instructions from coach Raul Losano before you went on the court?
– Our coach often likes to make double substitutions, sometimes he let me out for a block, but mainly he wanted three attacking players to remain on the front line. I think I have fulfilled my role. As they say, do what you need to do, don’t do what you don’t need to do. So I did the right thing (laughs).
– Do you perform in Italy, have you had the chance to play or talk with Italian stars, against whom you had to go on the court?
– No, I did not communicate with the stars of Italy, they do not know me, because I played in a lower league than them. To be honest, I don’t know all of them myself.
– As a new member of the team, talk about the atmosphere in the locker room. How did the team perceive Oleg Plotnytsky’s return?
– Everything that happens outside the site is cool, we are a friendly team. Many of the boys play abroad, so when we come to the national team, we feel a native atmosphere.
Oleg strengthened the team and added confidence on the court – you can feel it.
