17/12/2013 22:05
Galatasaray comes from behind to finish prelims in first place
2014 CEV DenizBank Volleyball Champions League - Women
Istanbul, Turkey, December 17, 2013. Turkey’s standout Galatasaray Daikin ISTANBUL confirmed their leadership in Pool E of the 2014 CEV DenizBank Volleyball Champions League – Women as in the last round of the group stage they beat Italy’s rookie Prosecco Doc-Imoco CONEGLIANO but only after coming back from two sets down (24-26, 23-25, 25-19, 25-15, and 15-3). Galatasaray could so celebrate their revenge after they had lost the previous clash in Italy with the same score.
These teams had already booked their ticket to the Playoffs 12 already after completion of the fifth round but nevertheless wanted to play their best once more so as to claim first place in Pool E and get a better draw for the start of the next knock-out phase. Galatasaray caught a good start (8:5) but CONEGLIANO exploited every single mistake made by the hosts to prolong the set and finally bring it home (24-26). After trailing 3:8 in the second set, the Italians – still missing their captain Raffaella Calloni – clawed back to make it 10 all and after another close and dramatic final rush, they could make it 23-25 and 0:2 in sets.
At this point Galatasaray stepped up and set the pace of the game all the way through the third set (16:12, 25-19) and continued the same way also in the fourth (25-15). The players of Prosecco Doc-Imoco CONEGLIANO looked exhausted and they eventually lost the tie-break after only 11 minutes of play (15-3). With this result Galatasaray Daikin cemented their leadership in Pool E and will be now waiting for the results of the DOL coming up on Thursday morning in Luxembourg.
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