05/12/2013 21:44
Eczacibasi makes it four in row with second straight victory over RC CANNES
2014 CEV Denizbank Volleyball Champions League – Women
Cannes, France, December 5, 2013. On Thursday night Eczacibasi VitrA ISTANBUL turned into the fourth team able to sweep four matches in a row in the prelims of the 2014 CEV DenizBank Volleyball Champions League as the side from Turkey’s megalopolis routed RC CANNES in straight sets for the second time in one week (25-18, 25-21, and 25-20). This way Eczacibasi made almost sure – though there are still two more rounds to go – they will finish the League Round on top of the charts in Pool D.
After a very close start (8:7), RC CANNES - supported by 2,800 fans in attendance at the Palais des Victoires - struggled to stand the serves by Turkey’s superstar Neslihan Demir (Darnel) who helped her side break away in the score to make it 15:9. The Turks played with great confidence and controlled the operations up to the end of the set (25-18) as RC CANNES could not find a way to stop their march.
RC CANNES did not start well also in the second set (1:3) but they eventually got back on track on a good serving turn by their Serbian setter Ana Antonijevic (6:3). Eczacibasi then fought their way back to set the tempo of the game at the first technical time-out (8:6) and playing with excellent consistency in every fundamental they slowly but surely widened their lead (16:12, 18:12). Nadia Centoni powered RC CANNES back (19:20) but again Eczacibasi imposed their rule in the final phases of the set to make it 25-21 for the provisional 2:0.
The third set followed a similar plot with ISTANBUL again leading the way at the first technical time-out (8:6). RC CANNES was again struggling with their reception and also from the service line but they eventually moved to the front after middle blocker Milena Rasic finalized a very long and exciting rally (12:11). Eczacibasi drew level at 13 all and even though Italian youngster Laura Partenio played very good for the home side, ISTANBUL steadily changed gear and wrapped it up in straight sets (25-20) for their fourth straight victory in the competition.
In the end Eczacibasi recorded eight aces and 11 blocks, with seven contributed by Croatian Maja Poljak.
“Tonight Eczacibasi was simply better than us in all facets of the game and especially their serve was very good” said RC CANNES mentor Yan Fang. “We made too many mistakes; moreover, our block and reception were not good enough; our hitters struggled throughout the whole game. We need to reset our minds and focus on the next game coming up in one week where we play Agel PROSTEJOV because our goal is now to finish second in the group so as to make the Playoffs 12.”
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