02/02/2021 22:00
Novara, VakifBank & Eczacibasi all maintain perfect win record in busy CL night
CEV Champions League Volley 2021
Luxembourg, February 2, 2020. In what was the busiest women's Champions League night of the season to date, VakifBank ISTANBUL (Pool C), Eczacibasi VitrA ISTANBUL (Pool D) and Igor Gorgonzola NOVARA (Pool E) all moved to 4-0 in their respective pools and will all be confident of making the Quarter-Final draw set for 12th February at 12:00 CET at the CEV headquarters. Pool A is considerably more open with no-one taking control and Savino Del Bene SCANDICCI joint top, alongside SSC Palmberg SCHWERIN on three wins.
Pool A
Ten thrilling sets in two closely fought matches that swung either way, was a great advert for the Champions League and European Volleyball as a whole. First up it was an all Italian derby with Unet e-work BUSTO ARSIZIO getting across the line in the end against Savino Del Bene SCANDICCI - the victors being led all the way by Camilla Mingardi (19 points).
Next up it was neighbours Germany vs Poland, or SSC Palmberg SCHWERIN vs Developres SkyRes RZESZÓW, and again it went the distance. The German side raced out of the box in the fifth storming to a 7-1 win and there was no turning back as they controlled the game to reach the conclusion and move second in the group.
Click here for more on Pool B
Pool C
It was the Turkish powerhouse of VakifBank ISTANBUL who would have started as the Pool C favourite for many and tonight it was another 'business as usual' performance which saw a straight sets win in only 73 minutes. Setter Maja Ognjenovic orchastrated play with Isabelle Haak top scoring with 21 points as Coach Giovanni Guidetti took the opportunity to mix things up a bit with his side knowing that they are already confirmed as having one foot in the quarters.
In the second match of the tournament, ASPTT MULHOUSE VB won three of four close sets to keep VakifBank focused for the two remaining matches. There was a solid performance by Anna Haak in the crucial 3rd set, scoring 5 points in attack and recording 80% of positive receptions. Christina Bauer returned to ASPTT after 10 years and became the best blocker in the match with 5.
Pool D
Allianz MTV STUTTGART again took Eczacibasi VitrA ISTANBUL the distance but could not get over the line first. It was a real clash of the big hitters as Krystal Rivers scored 40 points, while Tijana Boskovic "only" got 37! The result leaves the German side with 1 win but 4 points, having been involved in three five set matches in their first four matches. In the second game it was an entirely different story with Dinamo MOSCOW dominating the hosts - Nataliya Goncharova as MVP with 16 points, all winning spikes.
Pool E
The game of the day for most was the early match in Poland as Igor Gorgonzola NOVARA came through in four sets against Dinamo-Ak Bars KAZAN. The Russian side dominated the top scorer charts, but the game was controlled by the Italian Libero Stefania Sansonna who was a deserved MVP with a positive reception percentage of 59%. That coupled with the fire power of Malwina Smarzek-Godek and Britt Herbots was enough to leave the reigning champions from 2019 with one foot in the Quarter-finals after four matches.
In the second match, the hosts controlled their game against VK UP OLOMOUC from start to finish. Keeping their hopes alive of being in the quarter-finals draw, Grupa Azoty Chemik POLICE were led as always by Jovana Brakocevic who top scored with 13. They now know that things are still in their own hands and that two victories will be enough to guarantee them on of the second place spots at worst.
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