Luxembourg, March 4, 2020.  Germany’s Dresdner SC will challenge Turkey’s THY Istanbul in a direct duel for a place in the big final of the women’s CEV Volleyball Challenge Cup 2020. In the other semifinal, France’s Beziers VB will face Greece’s Olympiacos Piraeus as the last three vacancies among the best four of the tournament were taken on Wednesday.

THY Istanbul mastered another emphatic shutout of Austria’s ASKO Linz-Steg, this time at home by 3-0 (25-13, 25-15, 25-16). The Turkish side left no doubt over their superiority in this match-up and stayed well in control of the scoreboard throughout the match. Only three players on the scorers’ chart of the game reached the double digits, all of them from coach Marcello Abbondanza’s squad - Madison Rishel (11), Seyma Ercan (11) and Aneta Kocmanova Havlickova (10).

Dresdner SC reversed the course of their quarterfinal series with AO Thiras Santorini. At home in Dresden, inspired by the great support from the stands, the German side bounced back from the four-set loss in Greece to claim a 3-1 (25-19, 19-25, 25-21, 25-12) win in the return match and then back it up with a 15-13 victory in the golden set. The two teams exchanged comfortable in-control 25-19 wins in the first two sets. The third set was very tight through 13-13. With no more room to back up, Dresdner stepped up their offensive efforts, pushed forward and never looked back. Their middle blocker Monique Strubbe shared the top scorer honours with Thiras’s Cuban opposite Yaremis Mendaro Leyva. They hammered out 20 points each over the five sets played at the Margon Arena.

Alexander Waibl, head coach of Dresdner SC: "We have already achieved something big today. After the initial situation it was clear that it would be difficult. We got into the game well and then made an incredible number of mistakes in the second set. But from the middle of the third set we played really well. I am very proud of my team today."

Anika Brinkmann, outside spiker of AO Thiras Santorini: "Strong exchange of strikes between the two teams! We didn't make a gift to each other, which shows the good quality on both sides. In the important moments, Dresdner had the clearer mind."


Dresdner SC players triumph with the golden set victory

Beziers VB made sure not to drop a single set in their quarterfinal series against Germany’s Ladies in Black Aachen, winning the second game at home in straight sets again – 3-0 (25-15, 25-22, 25-18). In the fantastic atmosphere of the packed Four a Chaux, the French squad were well in control throughout the first set to win it by a wide margin, but in the second set they had to recover from a five-point deficit. On the wings of some good serving, Ladies in Black still had the lead at 20-19, but in the money time, the hosts stepped up their efforts and secured qualification with a 25-22 close. The Germans committed far too many unforced errors in the third set helping Beziers stay in control and cruise to the victory. Their Colombian middle blocker Yeisy Soto was the top scorer of the match on 13 points, including four blocks and two aces.

Pablo Griboff, assistant coach of Beziers VB: "It was a great score against a difficult team. Congratulations to all players and to the club! This is the first semifinal in the club's history!"

Keylla Fabrino Ramos, captain and setter of Beziers VB: "It's the result of teamwork."

Bart Janssen, assistant coach of Ladies in Black Aachen: "We played better than in the first match, but Beziers still has very physical players."

Aziliz Divoux, setter of Ladies in Black Aachen: "We were told it was all or nothing. We did our best, but physically they were superior."


Beziers VB celebrate with the home crowd

In the first leg of the semifinals on March 18, THY will host Dresdner and Olympiacos will entertain Beziers. The return games are set to take place on March 25.


For more info, go to the CEV Challenge Cup 2020 section.