Balta's Historic Victory Secures Final Spot in Women's Super League

Balta's historic achievement, Chornomorets ' home defeat , Storm's end of the season and Lomachenko 's public appearance - in the digest of sports events from the South by Intent.

<span><b>Volleyball. Balta's historic achievement</b></span>

<span><b></b></span>SC "Balta". Photo: Ukrainian Volleyball Federation.

• "Last week, Balta won the first two matches of the Women's Super League semifinal series on someone else's floor. To reach the final, they had to win at least one of the next three matches. The Balts had their first chance at home on March 15.
• The team from Odesa region did not need three attempts - in the first match at home, despite the fierce resistance of the Vinnytsia team, Balta did not give up a single game and secured a historic exit to the final.

• Balta's rivals in the decisive series will be Bukovyna from Chernivtsi. Throughout the season, Bukovynka was the dominant force, finishing the regular season with only one defeat. But Balta has recently created a sensation by defeating Bukovyna in the final of the Ukrainian Cup.

Tennis. Indian Wells. Svitolina is the best of the Ukrainians

Elina Svitolina. Photo: WTA.

• At the 1/8 finals stage, two Ukrainian women continued to fight. Marta Kostiuk ended the competition at this stage, losing in two sets to Chinese player Qinwen. Elina Svitolina, in turn, made a comeback in her trademark style after losing the first game and sent home the fourth world number four Jess Pegula.
• Unfortunately, Elina ended her fight for the title in the quarterfinals. The "neutral" Russian Mirra Andreeva proved to be stronger in two sets. Subsequently, Andreeva won the entire tournament. Now Mirra dodges all questions about her political position and the war in Ukraine. But in 2023, Diana Jastremska, in particular, accused the young Russian of supporting pro-Putin posts on social media. The WTA ignored this.

Football. Star disease at Chornomorets

Photo: FC Chornomorets.

• Before the match against Ingulets, Odesa coach Oleksandr Babych commented on rumors about the change of management at Chornomorets. According to him, the team is not reacting to this, and the goal for the season is to finish no lower than 12th.
• After that, Chornomorets lost in Odesa to Ingulets, which has now caught up with the sailors and shares the penultimate, 15th place with them.

• At the post-match press conference, Babych criticized one of the club's players, namely Yevhen Skyba. According to the coach, Skyba was not included in the application for the game because of a "star disease". The player replied that he was giving his best in training, but he could not condemn the coach's vision.

Games and results

• Odesa Storm lost in the semifinal series to Kyiv Capitals. Odesa came closest to victory in the fourth game on their home ice, but in the third period Kyiv scored the game-winner and the series winner.
• "Storm retains a theoretical chance of winning bronze medals. To do so, Sokil needs to defeat Kremenchuk in the other semifinal (after four games, the series score is 3-1 in favor of Kremenchuk.

Photo: Ukrainian Handball Federation.

• Real Mykolaiv was defeated twice by Spartak Kyiv and remains in last place in the Women's Super League.

Events of the week

Anna Maksimenko. Photo: Eva Pavia/FIE.

• Ukrainian Anna Maksymenko won the Fencing Grand Prix for the first time in her career. The 17-year-old defeated the Olympic team champion, Italian Giulia Rizzi , in the final .
• The diving team ofSofia Vystavkina and Sofia Esman took second place at the International Diving Tournament in Rostock, Germany.

Photo: Ukrainian Boxing Federation.

• The Ukrainian boxing championship was held in Odesa this week. Among the champions are three representatives of the South. These are Yuriy Zakhareev from Odesa region , as well as Elmir Nabiev and Maksym Zynevych from Mykolaiv.

Images of the week

Photo: Yevhen Khitrov/Instagram.

• At the same Ukrainian boxing championship, world champion Vasyl Lomachenko made his first public appearance in a very long time. It is not yet known whether the Akkerman resident will continue his professional career, and he was allowed to keep his world championship belt as an exception due to an injury.

Daria Bilodid. Photo: "Metalist 1925.

• Daria Bilodid , a well-known judoka and bronze medalist at the Paris Olympics, is now a football player. Bilodid signed a contract with Kharkiv-based Metalist 1925. By the way, on Monday, the Kharkiv team will start the spring part of the Ukrainian championship with a game against Odesa's Seasters . It is unlikely that Bilodid will make her debut in this match, but it should still be interesting - both teams are fighting for medals, so the game will be fierce and principled.

Traditionally, we wish you and your favorite athletes and teams good luck!

Адлен Муатс