12/11/2020 14:00
Helios Grizzlys win historic European home match, yet bid farewell to #CEVChallengeCupM
CEV Volleyball Challenge Cup 2021
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Hildesheim, Germany, November 12, 2020. On Tuesday evening, Helios Grizzlys GIESEN played their very first home match in the European Cups when hosting Sporting CP LISBOA of Portugal. They had lost the first leg in Lisbon 0-3 and at home, in front of 500 cardboard fans and cheered on by hall speaker Mike Münkel and DJ Max Bödder the Grizzlys delivered a strong performance against the pre-favourite Portuguese. After 117 minutes, they achieved a 3-2 victory and thus their first and so far only success at home on the international stage. At times, more than 6,500 fans followed the high-class game through the live streaming available on Twitch.tv and actively participated in the interactive chat. Yet, this home victory was not enough to progress to the next stage of the competition.
Home head coach Itamar Stein started the match with Jan Röling, Hauke Wagner, Magloire Mayaula, Pearson Eshenko, Stijn van Tilburg, Anton Menner and libero Milorad Kapur. In contrast to the first leg, the Grizzlys presented themselves focused and strong right from the start. The first set developed into a real neck-and-neck race until the score reached 16:16. The Germans convinced in this phase of the set especially by efficient attacks and a stable reception. In the middle of the set, they took a 3-point lead to 19-16. Although the Lisbon team came back to a one-point deficit (23-22), the hosts cashed their first set ball (25-22) to stay alive in the competition.
Sporting started very strong in the second set, and especially in the elements of setting and attack, the Portuguese played even more effectively than they had done in the first set. However, Menner made two very good serves and brought his team in the lead at 8-6. Afterwards the set remained fiercely contested and tight. Sporting appeared extremely awake and dominant in this phase, especially with their block. In the middle of the set, the visitors gained a multi-point lead. They did not give it up until the end of the set and finally cashed the second set ball, at 25-21, thus equalising the score.
The players of Sporting CP LISBOA celebrate their qualification for the 8th Finals of the CEV Volleyball Challenge Cup
Set number 3 was close until, at 23-19, the guests from Lisbon were able to set themselves apart with strong serves and effective blocks. Despite a strong performance of the Grizzlys, Sporting won this set 25-22, thus securing their spot in the CEV Challenge Cup 8th Finals.
In the final sets, the hosts managed to play their game. Having less pressure, the Germans played freely. After a high-class match, the Helios Grizzlys took the victory with 25-18 and 15-12 in the fourth and fifth set. This means that they remain unbeaten at home on the international stage so far. A successful European Cup premiere has ended.
After the victory against Sporting and the painful elimination from the CEV Challenge Cup, Itamar Stein’s team is now looking straight ahead, as the next matches in the German Bundesliga are lying ahead, against VCO Berlin on Friday and only one day later against BERLIN Recycling Volleys. Given the positive outcome of the return match and the victory against the top team of Sporting, the Grizzlys will approach this ‘mammoth programme’ highly motivated and focused.
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