12/12/2013 21:47
RC CANNES returns to success to claim ticket to Playoffs 12
2014 CEV DenizBank Volleyball Champions League – Women
Cannes, France, December 12, 2013. France’s RC CANNES booked their spot in the Playoffs 12 of the 2014 CEV DenizBank Volleyball Champions League – Women as they routed Agel PROSTEJOV of the Czech Republic in straight sets (25-23, 25-16, and 25-20) to claim their third victory in the competition and delight 2,100 fans in attendance at the local Palais des Victoires.
Actually Agel PROSTEJOV caught the better start and still set the pace of the game at the first technical time-out of the opening set (6:8). RC CANNES gradually found their rhythm with better serving and good play by their middle blockers Milena Rasic and Freya Aelbrecht. RC CANNES closed the gap to draw level at 13 all and eventually moved to the front as the second mandatory stop was called (16:15). The Czech mentor stopped the game once more as his side was trailing 17:19 but RC CANNES did not stop their triumphal march (22:19) finishing the set at 25-23. The Dutch spiker of RC CANNES, Maret Grothues, was targeted by the Czechs since the start of the game but she could stand the pressure very well and ended up being the most consistent player for the hosting team.
RC CANNES started off strong in the second set to force the Czech mentor into an early time-out as the ladies from the French Riviera were leading 6:2; though Belarusian Tatsiana Markevich – who last year had played for RC CANNES – joined the game for the Czechs, the guests could not stand the pace imposed by RC CANNES that easily broke away to make it 16:9 at the second technical time-out. The Czechs could get back on track with four points claimed as their American spiker Katie Carter was standing behind the service line but after a time-out asked by their mentor Yan Fang, RC CANNES got back control of the operations to cruise to the final 25-16. The key of the second set was the ability showed by the hosts to improve their play and efficiency in almost all fundamentals.
The third set followed a very similar plot with RC CANNES opening with a 6:2 run but Agel could bounce back propelled by a good serving turn of Andrea Kossanyiova. PROSTEJOV called for the first technical time-out leading 8:7 and after that widened their lead to 16:11. However, RC CANNES fought their way back, showing patience and determination, with six points that were contributed by their captain Nadia Centoni. Agel PROSTEJOV could no longer stand that pace and the home heroines wrapped it up in straight sets (25-20).
“After losing two matches in a row to Eczacibasi VitrA I am very happy with this victory in straight sets” said RC CANNES head coach Yan Fang. “PROSTEJOV has been a very tough opponent and they even set the tempo of the game in the first and third set. I am very satisfied with the team effort I have seen tonight. We played well especially in defense where we saved many points and also prepared well our attacks. But most of all we have achieved our goal which was to make it to the Playoffs 12” he concluded.
Click here for more info including detailed stats of the match
|