Luxembourg, March 20, 2019. It was a sheer spectacle that Vero Volley MONZA (ITA) and Russia's Belogorie BELGOROD delivered to the spectators in Italy Wednesday night in the first leg of the 2019 CEV Volleyball Challenge Cup final. It was the home team of MONZA that claimed victory in five thrilling sets. The match lasted for over two and a half hours and the teams were only separated by two points.
Vero Volley MONZA (ITA) vs. Belogorie BELGOROD (RUS) 3-2 (29-27, 22-25, 25-23, 32-34, 15-12)
- Not one, but two players managed to score 27 points for Vero Volley MONZA: Donovan Dzavoronok and Oleh Plotnytskyi. John Gordon Perrin was the highest scorer for BELGOROD with 23.
- MONZA were unable to convert several match points in the fourth set before BELGOROD drew the match level after winning the set 34-32.
- 1,712 spectators in the Candy Arena saw 153 minutes worth of exciting volleyball, which went to the absolute extreme of physical ability.
- The return match will be played on March 27 at the Sports Palace Cosmos in Belgorod, Russia.
Fabio Soli, head coach of Vero Volley MONZA: "I am happy and proud of what the boys have put in place against an experienced and decorated team like Belogorie. They knew how to suffer, push and be patient. It didn't happen much during the season to have all three of these components combined together, but tonight we were good at exploiting them throughout the game and bringing home a very important victory. The return match will be difficult: we will have to give it our all and show again the same determined performance that we delivered tonight."
Denis Zemchenok, player of Belogorie BELGOROD: "It was not easy at all. We knew it and we realised it tonight. It was a challenge full of emotions, but we managed to win the fourth set and that certainly helps the prospects for the return match. If we already have half the cup in your pocket? I do not believe so. We will certainly have another tough match. I hope our audience will be as hot as tonight's."
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