03/02/2017 12:35
Fakel NOVY URENGOY comfortably through to Challenge Cup quarterfinals
2017 CEV Volleyball Challenge Cup - Men
Novy Urengoy, Russia, February 3, 2017. Russia’s Fakel NOVY URENGOY easily claimed also the remake of their tie with BATE-BGUFK BORISOV of Belarus 3-0 (25-14, 25-12, 25-21) to progress to the quarterfinals of the 2017 CEV Volleyball Challenge Cup – Men. Their next opponent will be Norway’s Viking TIF BERGEN with a spot in the semis at stake.
Some 1,000 fans came together on Thursday as Fakel NOVY URENGOY extended their winning streak in the CEV Volleyball Challenge Cup – Men. After a close start to the match, Dmitrii Volkov scored two aces in a row to contribute to an 8-4 lead for the home side. The head coach of BATE-BGUFK BORISOV, Ruslan Seliauka, stopped the game again with his team trailing 7-12 but he could not slow down Fakel’s march towards a comprehensive 25-14 victory in the first set.
After another close start, Fakel rushed to an 8-4 advantage in the second set as well – this time with Denis Bogdan standing behind the service line. Ilia Vlasov did an excellent job at the net and NOVY URENGOY extended their lead to 12-6 with powerful serving by their setter Igor Kolodinsky. Everything went just fine for Fakel through to the end of the set, with their performance resulting in a landslide 25-12 win.
BATE-BGUFK BORISOV finally edged ahead in the third set leading 8-7 at the first technical time-out. However, Fakel restored their leadership later on with the help of Valentin Bezrukov and his jump serves – 19-16. BORISOV put up a fight but made too many mistakes to stand a chance and Fakel eventually secured a compelling 3-0 win (25-21).
Ruslan Seliauka, head coach of BATE-BGUFK BORISOV said: “I want to congratulate our opponents on their victory and hope they can reach the final stage of this competition. Fakel already have some experience from last year’s final and I believe that this season they can seize the title. As far as our matches are concerned, the difference in class between the two teams was obvious and the result is the one we expected.”
Igor Chutchev, head coach of Fakel NOVY URENGOY: “We served really well and the players of BORISOV could not cope with this. We did not underestimate our opponents, and actually we had prepared for this match very seriously, taking to the court determined to show a good performance.”
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