EuroVolleyW 2023: Lauren Bertolacci, the only female head coach in the tournament

It was a tie break loss for Switzerland in the first game of EuroVolley 2023 Pool B, but Lauren Bertolacci's team, the only female head coach of the tournament, played a good game.

It was a busy Day 2 in Pool B EuroVolley 2023 in Monza, with the remaining four teams who played their first game in the tournament after the opening game at Arena di Verona two days ago, with Italy who took home the 3-0 win over Romania.

It was the debut in the tournament for the only female head coach at EuroVolley 2023, Switzerland trainer Lauren Bertolacci, who lost first game 2-3 at the tie break versus Bosnia & Herzegovina, in an heartbeat game, starting the championship with energy and personality despite the loss.

38-year-old, born and raised in Australia, Bertolacci played for ten years with Australian national team, collecting 80 caps with the Volleyroos, then moving to Switzerland during her playing career, and remaining there also for her coaching career.

As coach she started in Switzerland with Volley Luzern men's team in the NLA, the top Switzerland’s League, then switching to women’s league, collecting multiple trophies with reigning Swiss champions of Viteos Neuchatel UC in last years.

In December 2021 she’s been hired by Switzerland national team, doing a good job, qualifying for EuroVolley 2023.

Lauren Bertolacci is a coach with preparation, personality and great attitude, and all her well deserved successes with Viteos Neuchatel UC and the good results with Switzerland are witnessing this.

She’s an exemple and model for all the women who are approaching the coaching career, aiming to reach the top level of Volleyball as she did.

In first game of their Pool B Switzerland had a good start versus Bosnia & Herzegovina, by winning easily first set 25-16, but losing clearly second 15-25.

In third set Switzerland made an important comeback in the crunch time of the set, taking the lead by winning third 25-23, but failing to win fourth, with Bosnia who forced the game to tie break by winning 25-17.

In the tie break Ljubicic’s team took an important lead in the middle of the set but Bertolacci’s team came back until the tie at 13, forcing the tie break at the extras.

In the end Bosnia & Herzegovina won the game 17-15, after a very emotional game.

Bertolacci’s Switzerland fought hard and showed some good volleyball, missing the win but playing a good game.

Best scorers for Bosnia & Herzegovina were Dajana Boskovic and Edina Begic with 18 points each, while the best scorer for Switzerland was captain Laura Kunzler with 18 points.

In the second game of the day Bulgaria won 3-1 over Bulgaria, in a very intense match played by Lorenzo Micelli’s team, who grabbed the first win in Pool B.

Good performance for Bulgarian outside hitter Radostina Marinova, who scored 23 points, driving Bulgaria to the co-lead of the Pool.

The best scorer for Croatia was middle blocker Martina Samadan with 15 points.

The situation in Pool B is right now Italy, Bosnia & Herzegovina and Bulgaria with one win, Romania, Switzerland and Croatia with one loss.