Sweden Women pulled off a gutsy five‑set victory over Slovenia Women in a European League Women clash on July 9, 2026, winning 3–2 in a match that stretched well past midnight. The result keeps Sweden’s promotion hopes alive while dealing a blow to Slovenia’s campaign.

Match Overview

Played at a neutral venue in Liechtenstein, the contest was a rollercoaster of momentum swings. Sweden started strongly, losing momentum in the middle sets, only to dig deep in the deciding set. The 3–2 final score (25–20, 23–25, 25–23, 21–25, 15–11) reflected the evenness of the two sides and the importance of clutch play under pressure.

Key Moments

• First Set – Sweden control: Efficient passing and quick attacks from opposite Maja Andersson helped Sweden build an early lead. Slovenia struggled with reception errors, and Sweden closed 25–20.
• Second Set – Slovenia fight back: Led by captain Eva Senica, Slovenia improved their block‑defence connection. A 6‑1 run midway through swung the set, and they evened the match 25–23.
• Third Set – Narrow edge to Sweden: Both teams traded points until 23‑23. A sharp cross‑court kill from Elina Bäckström followed by a serving ace gave Sweden the 25–23 win.
• Fourth Set – Slovenia force decider: Slovenia’s outside hitters Naja Božič and Urška Kovačič found their rhythm, combining for 12 kills. Slovenia took the set 25–21 to push the match to a fifth set.
• Fifth Set – Sweden’s resilience: In the shortened set, Sweden jumped to a 5–2 lead behind two blocks from middle blocker Linnea Jonsson. Slovenia closed to 10‑9, but Sweden held firm, winning 15‑11 on a defensive dig that set up a winner by Isabella Lindahl.

Standout Players

Elina Bäckström (SWE) led all scorers with 24 points, including the decisive spike in the third set. Naja Božič (SLO) was excellent in defeat with 19 kills and a passing efficiency of 55%.

European League Impact

The victory moves Sweden into third place in the European League Women standings, level on points with the current league leaders. Slovenia, meanwhile, slips to sixth, but with several matches remaining, both teams remain mathematically capable of reaching the final four. Sweden’s depth and composure in high‑pressure situations were the difference on the night.