Luxembourg, November 13, 2019. The champions of Serbia managed to use the home-court advantage and with big support from their passionate fans they emerged victorious in the match and the Golden Set. Vojvodina NS Seme NOVI SAD banished memories of their poor performance last week, when they lost 0-3. By winning today's game in four sets, they prolonged the battle with C.S. Municipal Arcada GALATI and it was the Golden Set to determine who would continue their #CLVolleyM journey. After a thrilling fight, the Serbians keep their chance for the highly coveted spot in the group stage of the elite CEV Champions League Volley 2020 – Men alive. Thursday’s game between Ford Store Levoranta SASTAMALA (FIN) and Shakhtior SOLIGORSK (BLR) will determine their opponent in Round 3.
Vojvodina NS Seme NOVI SAD (SRB) vs. C.S. Municipal Arcada GALATI (ROU) 3-1 (25-20, 21-25, 25-21, 25-22), Golden Set 15-11
- Before the match, the President of Vojvodina NS Seme NOVI SAD - Dragoljub Zbiljic presented a special jersey to Nikola Maric, who was the sports director of the club for 29 years. During his tenure, he won 14 titles and 13 cups, earned 3rd place in the Champions League (1996) and won the 2015 edition of the CEV Challenge Cup.
- NOVI SAD opened the game fully motivated, staying ahead during the entire first set. The home team especially impressed with good reception.
- The second part was filled with drama, as both sides were winning several points in a row and the lead was changing back and forth, but eventually it was the visiting team taking this one.
- In the third set the home team with a huge boost from the fans could impose their rule, achieving a comfortable advantage.
- The fourth part was very tight, but GALATI made too many own mistakes (10 points delivered by errors to the opponent in this set) and in the decisive part it was the hosts edging ahead, thus keeping their #CLVolleyM dream alive.
- The Golden Set was a point-by-point race. The champions of Serbia jumped to a 13-10 lead and eventually secured a spot in Round 3.
- The best scorer of the game was Aleksandar Blagojevic (NOVI SAD), who tallied 26 points. On the other side of the court, Niels Klapwijk scored 19 times for GALATI.
- The match (including the Golden Set) lasted 138 minutes and was watched on-site by 1,500 fans, mostly children and teenagers who created an amazing atmosphere.
- The match was not ticketed, but instead, Vojvodina raised funds for little Kosta Petkovic from Novi Sad, who suffers from leukemia and needs to undergo treatment in Italy.
Stevan Simic, player of Vojvodina NS Seme NOVI SAD: “I said after the first game that it would be better here. We proved that we are better. I believe that Novi Sad can be proud, but a big thanks to the fans who made a wonderful atmosphere and were our extra player.”
Milos Terzic, player of C.S. Municipal Arcada GALATI: “We did not use our chance. They played better in the second match and deserved to progress to the next round.”
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