Luxembourg Volleyball Team Fall to Austria, Greece as Coach Praises Players

On Sunday 21 June 2026, Luxembourg's men's national volleyball team concluded its home CEV European Silver League tournament with two defeats at the Coque in Luxembourg-Kirchberg

Pompiliu Dascalu's team opened the tournament on Friday 19 June with a 0-3 loss (14-25, 12-25, 15-25) against Austria. The visitors dominated throughout the match and secured a comfortable straight-sets victory.

Luxembourg returned to the court on Sunday to face Greece in the final match of their 2026 European League campaign, producing a much more competitive performance than in their opening defeat to Austria.

The opening set remained closely contested throughout. Luxembourg briefly led 10-8 before Greece levelled the score and then moved 18-16 ahead, prompting head coach Pompiliu Dascalu to call a timeout. Chris Zuidberg and Christian Galoppo repeatedly helped the hosts cut the deficit, but Greece held on and converted their first set point to claim the opener 25-22.

The second set followed a similar pattern, with neither side able to establish a decisive advantage. Luxembourg moved 11-9 ahead and later restored a two-point lead at 13-11 through a block by Christian Galoppo. However, Greece responded immediately and the teams remained level at 16-16 and 18-18. A successful Video Challenge awarded the hosts a point for 19-18, but the visitors regained the initiative shortly afterwards. Despite another timeout from Pompiliu Dascalu, Greece held their nerve in the closing stages and claimed the set by the same 25-22 scoreline.

Luxembourg came closest to extending the match in the third set. After the teams were level at 11-11, Greece opened a four-point gap at 19-15. Chris Zuidberg helped the hosts fight back and, following an ace from Filip Bilan and a successful attack from Gilles Braas, Luxembourg levelled at 23-23. The set then developed into a tense battle featuring several Video Challenges and multiple lead changes. Zuidberg and Braas helped Luxembourg save match points and move ahead 28-27, but Greece ultimately prevailed 33-31 after a dramatic finish to complete a straight-sets victory.

The result secured a 3-0 victory (25-22, 25-22, 33-31) for Greece and left Luxembourg without a win at the home tournament, following Friday's straight-sets defeat against Austria. Nevertheless, Luxembourg head coach Pompiliu Dascalu remained positive about his team's performance.

"It was a nice game, a nice fight. That's all what I expected from my players, from my team. Once again, I'm proud of them," Pompiliu Dascalu told Chronicle.lu. "Despite the defeat, the results were not the results we expected, but I'm proud of what they are doing, their investment, their commitment, everything."

The Romanian coach stressed that the current squad is undergoing a transition period and focusing on long-term development. "We are working, we are in a transition phase. We are preparing the next years of the national team," he explained. "What I saw this evening and generally throughout this period of competition is encouraging. I'm optimistic about it.”