Monza, Italy, March 16, 2021.  The Italian team of Saugella MONZA have started the Final of the CEV Volleyball Cup 2021 in an emphatic style. They dominated over Galatasaray HDI ISTANBUL throughout the match. One overwhelming statistic are the 17 blocks MONZA produced, when only being stopped twice by the Turkish block. MONZA will travel to Istanbul next week knowing they only need two sets to lift the CEV Cup trophy.

Saugella Monza (ITA) vs Galatasaray HDI ISTANBUL (TUR) 3-0 (25-23, 25-15, 25-16)

From early on in the match MONZA were on the right side of the score. They built up a seven-point lead in the opening set (16-9). At that moment Galatasaray’s leading lady Tatiana Kosheleva stepped up. She produced 10 points in the first set alone and the Turkish team closed the gap, even leading at 21-22. But to no avail, MONZA hit back hard and Belgian opposite Lise Van Hecke pulled the trigger at set point: 25-23.

From that moment on it was all about MONZA. Marco Gaspari’s team was functioning like a well-oiled machine. Setter Alessia Orro could just pick her attackers, Edina Begic, Floortje Meijners, Laura Heyrman, Anna Danesi and the aforementioned Van Hecke were on fire. Danesi shut out the second and third set (25-15, 25-16) to give MONZA a big advantage going into next week’s return.

·      Tatiana Kosheleva was top scorer this match, scoring 18 points for Galatasaray

·      MONZA outblocked Galatasaray 17-2

·      Lise Van Hecke was most productive for MONZA, scoring 17, among them three blocks and one ace

·      MONZA had a 58% execution on attack, Galatasaray had 41%.

Floortje Meijners, player of Saugella MONZA: “I am really proud of my team. We could keep our level high throughout the match and that it has been the key to our victory today. It may have seemed simple tonight, but Galatasaray is a strong team that we face with the right attitude. Now we need to focus on the away match: it will not be easy but we will do our best.”
 
Tatiana Kosheleva, player of Galatasaray HDI ISTANBUL: “Tonight we fought and we need to be proud of it, but it was not enough. The most important thing is that this is not the end: we have another game and I believe in my team, and I know that we are able to do better. I hope we can enjoy the experience on the court in the next match and recover the girls who did not come here. We need of all us to win this cup.”