15/01/2014 18:44
Dinamo KAZAN claims first round of Russian derby
2014 CEV DenizBank Volleyball Champions League - Women
Moscow, Russia, January 15, 2014. The much anticipated Russian derby in the Playoffs 12 of the 2014 CEV DenizBank Volleyball Champions League – Women ended with Dinamo KAZAN scoring a 3:1 away victory over Dinamo MOSCOW (25-21, 25-21, 18-25, and 25-16).
The hosts did not look that much focused in the opening set and after a close start (5:5) Dinamo MOSCOW quickly trailed 9:16 as KAZAN was imposing their pace. However, the Muscovites were able to find their way back into the game and the duo comprising Tatiana Kosheleva and Iuliia Morozova could even stop Dinamo KAZAN superstar Ekaterina Gamova a few times. Even though Nataliya Obmochaeva and Morozova scored a few good points, and Anastasia Markova joined the game performing well, a mistake by Kosheleva sealed the final 25-21 for KAZAN.
The second set was much more interesting and exciting with Dinamo MOSCOW improving their performance behind the service line and keeping the score close up to 20 all. However, in the end Dinamo MOSCOW made a few more mistakes thereby paving the way for another 25-21 by their opponents.
Dinamo MOSCOW started off very strong in the third set (5:0) thereby pleasing the 2,100 fans in attendance at the Druzhba sports hall. Libero Anna Malova – who was playing for Dinamo for the first time this season – showed great actions in defense and with Obmochaeva, Kosheleva and Morozova joining their forces at the net, the Muscovites re-opened the game (25-18).
Still the hosts could not keep that pace also in the fourth set where Gamova was on a class of her own, changing once more the course of the game and leading her side to the 25-16 that sealed a 3:1 away victory waiting for the return match coming up next week in the capital city of Tatarstan.
“This is already one of the most exciting stages of the Champions League and we had to play a very strong opponent that we already know from domestic competitions” Gamova – who top scored with 23 points – said. “I do not think that it will be that easy at home; we shall be prepared for a tough game and remain concentrated.”
“We did not show our real level and we made a lot of mistakes tonight” commented Dinamo MOSCOW head coach Svetlana Ilic. “And we did not fight up to the end. We have to be much more disciplined for the next game; we will try to prepare as good as we can so as to provide our opponents with good resistance.”
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