Luxembourg, February 20, 2018. Turkish top sides Galatasaray SK ISTANBUL and VakifBank ISTANBUL are to fight for the top spot of Pool D in the #CLVolleyW as Galatasaray SK ISTANBUL overpowered Dinamo MOSCOW 3-1 (19-25, 25-22, 25-15, 25-21), while VakifBank ISTANBUL outclassed Grot Budowlani LODZ 3-0 (25-13, 25-22, 25-16). Vizura RUMA of Serbia, on the other hand, completed a perfect sweep versus Maritza PLOVDIV 3-0 (25-23, 25-19, 25-14).
Galatasaray SK ISTANBUL (TUR) vs. Dinamo MOSCOW (RUS) 3-1 (19-25, 25-22, 25-15, 25-21)
• The game remained tight in the beginning of the first set. Dinamo MOSCOW led by 8-7 after the first technical time-out. The Russians completely took control of the first set after the break. Although Galatasaray coach Ataman Güneyligil called a time-out at 10-13, the situation did not change for the better. Dinamo MOSCOW kept dominating until the end of the first set to secure a 25-19 win. Nataliya Goncharova of Dinamo MOSCOW was the leading scorer with six points, while Galatasaray committed six service errors.
• Till the first technical time-out, the second set was similar to the first one. Dinamo were ahead by 8-7 at the first technical break. However, after a 12-7 lead by Dinamo MOSCOW, Galatasaray showed resilience. The team from the Bosphorus took the momentum at Aslı Kalac’s service turn to book four points in a row. Despite trailing by two points at the second technical time-out, the Turkish side clinched the second set with 25-22. Sinead Jack was the top scorer for Galatasaray with six points.
• Galatasaray took over the reins in the third set. The Turks were leading by 8-4 at the first technical time-out. The home side took the third set at a canter with 25-15. The hosts scored four block points, while Tatiana Kosheleva was leader in the score card with six points.
• In the fourth set, Dinamo had the lead at the first technical time out (8-6). However, Galatasaray broke Dinamo’s resistance with their solid service and blocking game. After the second technical time-out (which came at a 16-9 lead for Galatasaray), the hosts continued to dominate the game. As a consequence, they won the set with 25-21 despite having missed out on six match points.
• After this home victory, Galatasaray SK ISTANBUL secured the second place in the group. They will face VakifBank in the big Istanbul derby next week Tuesday to fight for the top spot in Pool D.
Ataman Güneyligil, coach of Galatasaray: “The beginning of the match was like a nightmare for us. The service and reception errors had an impact on us. However, afterwards we started to be aggressive in our blocking game. We changed the momentum and won the game. Getting three points was also very important for us. We play very tough games every three days. Our players have not had the opportunity to rest. Group D is the ‘Pool of Death’ and we have now secured the second place. We will fight with our city rivals VakıfBank ISTANBUL for the top spot of this group.”
Grot Budowlani LODZ (POL) vs. VakifBank ISTANBUL (TUR) 0-3 (13-25, 22-25, 16-25)
• Grot Budowlani LODZ lost their fifth straight match in Pool D - this was the last home game of this #CLVolleyW season for the Polish team.
• VakifBank ISTANBUL, on the other hand, improved their winning streak to five in a row to defend the top spot in Pool D.
• The team from the Bosphorus delivered a very solid performance in every aspect of the game and proved too strong for LODZ. Giovanni Guidetti’s squad won the first set (25-13) after leading by as many as 10 points earlier on.
• The second set was a closer affair. Grot Budowlani LODZ outside hitter Julia Twardowska led her squad to a 7-3 lead with a strong service series. The home squad defended their big lead up to 13-6. Eventually, VakifBank ISTANBUL, however, showed their quality towards the end to prevail 25-22.
• The third set was dominated by the team from Istanbul. The defending #CLVolleyW champions comfortably won 25-16.
• VakifBank ISTANBUL are the only unbeaten team in Pool D.
Agnieszka Kąkolewska, middle blocker of Grot Budowlani LODZ: "It is difficult to say something. We fought really well. At some point it looked better for us, sometimes not. We played one of the best teams in the world. It was a good volleyball lesson for us. I want to use it in our league games. Now, we have to focus on the big goals in the Polish league, and the Final Four of the Polish Cup. We want to make it to the playoffs.”
Vizura RUMA (SRB) vs. Maritza PLOVDIV (BUL) 3-0 (25-23, 25-19, 25-14)
• Vizura RUMA captain Sladjana Eric played her last #CLVolley home game. The former Serbian international crowned her farewell game with a 3-0 victory. After the final whistle, her teammates surprised the 34-year-old with a special T-shirt to commemorate her final game.
• Sara Lozo of Vizura RUMA topped the scoring list with 14 points, including two block points. Captain Sladjana Eric and Katarina Lazovic added 12 points each to Vizura's tally. Radosveta Teneva and Desislava Nikolova scored nine points each for Maritza.
• The home squad from Vizura outperformed Maritza PLOVDIV at the net with 12 block points - four block points per set. Captain Sladjana Eric was the best player in this aspect of the game as she gathered four block points.
• In the offensive game, Vizura RUMA convinced with a high efficiency rate. Dejan Desnica's squad converted every second attack into a point.
• With good attacks, Vizura took the lead in the first set (8-5) before Sara Lozo contributed to two set points (24-22) for the home side. Eric finished it off with a strong attack from the middle for 25-23.
• Maritza started the second set with an 8-6 lead but after the technical time-out, Vizura found their rhythm and scored a few points in a row to swiftly make it to 18-12. Teneva led her team until -1 (18-17, 20-19) but the Serbian national champions secured a 25-19 win mostly thanks to young rising star Katarina Lazovic, who scored six points.
• In the third set, Vizura stormed to a comprehensive 25-14 win to secure a 3-0 victory.
Dejan Desnica, head coach of Vizura RUMA: “We are all very happy with this victory. We prepared for this match ever since we heard the names of the opponents we would play in this pool. We achieved a big success with this victory although at the beginning of the competition it seemed almost like a mission impossible for us. We still have one more match to try to achieve something bigger and move to the next stage. This is a very important victory for us, the second out of the five games and the biggest success for a Serbian club in this competition. Congratulations to my team.”
Sladjana Eric, captain of the Serbian Sharks: “This match was full of emotions. Before the match, in the locker room, the girls said that they would play and win for me. I did see that desire to win from start to end of the match and we really played on a high level. This was my last match for Vizura and I am overwhelmed with emotions. In two days, I will move to Liu Jo Nordmeccanica MODENA, my second home and I must say that this could not happen if our club president Zoran Radojicic had not allowed me to go. He believes that I deserve to play in a much stronger league such as the Italian one.”
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