Luxembourg, October 21, 2017. With five matches on offer tonight there was something for everyone. Things started well for all those following from around the world with a five-set classic that could have gone either way, but after 438 rallys completed across the two matches it was Minchanka MINSK who ended up progressing and will face VakifBank ISTANBUL in the next round.
In the second match of the day, Nova KBM Branik MARIBOR strolled to victory winning their match 3-0, while elsewhere in Poland Champions League rookies Developres SkyRes RZESZOW (pictured), as well as Imoco Volley CONEGLIANO, also qualified to Round 3 after taking the first two sets in their respective matches. In the match of the week(end), it was the Dutch side of SLIEDRECHT Sport who came out on top beating their Belgian neighbours Asterix Avo BEVEREN 3-1.
Full results:
Minchanka MINSK (BLR) vs Rocheville LE CANNET (FRA) 3-2 (25-21, 25-12, 21-25, 22-25, 18-16)
After a close contest, where both teams had match points, it was the team from Belarus who emerged with a win, again 3 sets to 2. In the first two sets the home team were totally dominant with Rocheville LE CANNET not leading in either set by even a single point. One remarkable moment was at the start of the 2nd set where the Minchanka MINSK team captain - and the best scorer of the match with 32 points - Aksana Kavalchuk scored six consecutive points to build a 6-0 lead. Things started to change mid-way through the third set when the French side took the lead and accelerated away to take a set that was vital for them, by four points.
The fourth set swang both ways, but again when it came to the crunch time it was Rocheville LE CANNET who were in the lead and levelled the match at 2-2 - coming back from two sets down. In the fifth set both teams had slender leads, and after match points for both sides, Minsk triumphed and repeated their five-set success from Tuesday and with it secured progression to the 3rd Round where they will now face the team confirmed as the best in the world in 2017, VakifBank ISTANBUL of Turkey.
Viktar Hancharou, head coach of Minchanka MINSK: "This game was similar to the first one in France. After taking the first two sets, we, as is often the case, relaxed, lost concentration and our best qualities. Then only in the fifth set we played well again. Obviously, we do not have enough experience of matches at such a high level. We have very little matches like this in the season as in the Champions League. Therefore, there are problems in our game."
Kristian Knudsen, assistant coach of Rocheville LE CANNET: "It was a difficult game. We started very bad. In first two sets we didn't have any reception. Then our staff tried to change many things in our game. In the fifth set we were very close to sealing a victory. We wanted to play a golden set, so we are very upset with this result."
Aksana Kavalchuk, captain of Minchanka MINSK: "The opponent is very strong, with a very good selection of players. Therefore, it was very difficult for us to fight against it. We knew that it would be a very interesting match. Of course, we are happy with the victory. We pleased the audience with an entertaining game. I hope that we managed to attract new fans to women's Volleyball in Belarus."
Following their victory, the home team will look back at this moment with a smile on their faces:
Nova KBM Branik MARIBOR (SLO) vs. ZOK Bimal-Jedinstvo BRČKO (BIH) 3-0 (25-17, 25-21, 25-16)
In stark contrast to the first match of the day, this one was completely one sided. The Slovenian team dominated in all areas of the game and strode to a straight sets victory. Nova KBM Branik started the game better and took an early lead 8-5, thanks to some good serving. The hosts were using the chances given to them by the Bosnian champions and after the second Technical Time-Out the lead was up to five. With very efficient Iza Mlakar and good defense MARIBOR took the first set 25-17.
The home team started the second set strong (6-1), but the travelling team fought back and after a service ace from Natasa Slijepčević the score was 8-8, soon after this was 19-19 and the attending crowd thought they had a game on their hands. Coach Samo Miklavc chose to bring the experienced Captain Aleksandra Milosavljević in at 20-19 and the home team went on to win 25-21 and book the Round 3 ticket.
Although everything was decided, the home team didn‘t stop - they were going for the win and Nova KBM Branik MARIBOR came through to win 25-21 and three sets to zero.
“I am happy with the result of both matches. The approach of the players was very good and I am happy that the younger players had the chance to play today. We kept going after set 2 and I think we deserved the promotion to Round 3. I am satisfied with the win," said home team coach Samo Miklavc.
Asterix Avo BEVEREN (BEL) vs. SLIEDRECHT Sport (NED) 1-3 (25-13, 24-26, 21-25, 17-25)
The city of Ghent was hosting both teams in the Edugo Arena and they were pleased with the spectacular and fantastic game in this derby of the low countries. The visitors from Holland had a very nervous start and Asterix Avo took the lead 6-0 and their high service pressure put them fully in control. SLIEDRECHT changed their setter at 11-5 but Asterix Avo controlled the set easily excelling with their block-defence and took the first set with ease (25-13).
The nervous play from SLIEDRECHT disappeared and a better block organisation got the Dutch ladies into the lead. It was a very close set. First two setballs were for SLIEDRECHT but Asterix Avo fought back to 24-24, however it was SLIEDRECHT at last who took the 2nd set. With the Dutch domination continuing, Belgian coach Gert Vande Broek took a time-out at 8-11 but with great variety in their play SLIEDRECHT built their advantage up to six points at the second technical. At 20-24 a tip over pushed SLIEDRECHT into a 1-2 lead. Continuing their dominance, the Dutch side took the 4th set by a considerable margin and with it a spot in the 3rd Round.
SLIEDRECHT Sport Coach Matt van Wezel said: "I'm very happy with our win over Asterix Avo. I think we had a difficult start as we had problems with our reception and there was a lot of serve pressure. From the second set all players improved their game. In the end, as far as serving and blocking are concerned, we were better than Asterix Avo, so we are happy to go to the next round."
SLIEDRECHT Sport player Ana Rekar added: "We are very happy with this victory and we are looking forward to our next match against Conegliano!"
Asterix Avo BEVEREN captain Celine Van Gestel said: “We are a little bit disappointed, we started very well with a lot of pressure in service. But we couldn’t keep this high level during the whole game. The Dutch team showed more determination today. It is sad, because we wanted to play against all those volleybalsters of Conegliano (Italy), which is one of the favourite and strongest teams of the Champions League.”
Coach Gert Vande Broek of Asterix Avo BEVEREN said: “SLIEDRECHT Sport proved in the last two games that they are stronger than us. They have more maturity. We failed in receiving. We played better in defense, but it was not enough to end this game with a victory. SLIEDRECHT Sport had more power in attack. We continue in the CEV Cup in December. Don’t forget that my team is very young, but games like this will help them in the future.”
Developres SkyRes RZESZOW (POL) vs. Hapoel KFAR SABA (ISR) 3-0 (25-21, 25-19, 25-15)
The team that are "making history" can continue their story as they progressed to face Nova KBM Branik MARIBOR (SLO) in the 3rd Round. In their first ever home match in the Champions League, Developres SkyRes RZESZOW had a relatively comfortable ride against their opponents from Israel. Formed in May 2012, the Polish club from the same town as world famous Asseco Resovia, have come a long way and will look forward to their next round matches with anticipation.
"We are very happy that we won. We show a good game and achieved our goal. So step by step we will improve ourselves and our game. Now we will prepare for the next matches in the Polish league and will wait with much excitement for the next round of the Champions League. Big thanks to all our fans for their amazing supporting," said Iuliia Andrushka, opposite from Developres SkyRes RZESZOW.
Imoco Volley CONEGLIANO (ITA) vs. Linamar-BÉKÉSCSABAI RS KFT (HUN) 3-0 (25-11, 25-10, 25-15)
After a comfortable win away in Hungary, you can excuse the Imoco fans for turning up and expecting an easy match. So imagine their surprise when the travelling team took a surprise four-point lead. That was as good as it got though as the home team turned things around quickly and led 16-6 come the second technical time-out. From here the Italian panthers never looked back, striding on to a comfortable victory. They will now face the Dutch side of SLIEDRECHT Sport in the 3rd Round.
One performance worth highlighting was by Mexican Samantha Bricio, who scored 18 points (and seven aces).
Alberto Salomoni, head coach of Linamar: "The gap from a technical standpoint and in terms of experience was really unbearable, today we played without Mlinar, Ivanovic and Fresko and we had on the court girls born in 1999 and 2000. We could not do more than that, but it was a great experience for my team to play at this level in such a prestigious venue."
Daniele Santarelli, head coach Imoco: "We started with some errors, then we played a good game where I could use all of the players on our roster. The important thing was to qualify and we have achieved our goal, now let's look forward because there is so much to work and the season will be long and full of tough games."
Samantha Bricio, player of Imoco Volley: "We played a great game, I am very happy for the qualification and with my "comeback" to Palaverde to play after so long with our fantastic fans. For me after the days with the Mexican national team, it was great to play with my team, we are a very strong team and we are working hard in the gym to grow and improve together."
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