16/04/2017 17:53
Fakel add extra accolade for Russia by seizing Challenge Cup crown
2017 CEV Volleyball Challenge Cup - Men
Novy Urengoy, Russia, April 16, 2017. On Sunday, Fakel NOVY URENGOY made history by emerging victorious from the ‘grand finale’ of the 2017 CEV Volleyball Challenge Cup – Men. The Russian team did so as they won also their rematch with France’s CHAUMONT VB 52 3-1 (21-25, 25-20, 25-19, 25-18) – the same score they had recorded on Wednesday when playing away from home.
It was the second attempt made by Fakel NOVY URENGOY at winning the CEV Volleyball Challenge Cup – last year they had lost in the finals to Italy’s Calzedonia VERONA. This time CHAUMONT VB 52 stood on their way but Fakel NOVY URENGOY did not tremble and eventually became the first Russian team to claim the CEV Volleyball Challenge Cup title.
European Cups rookies CHAUMONT VB 52 put up a fight taking the first set and it looked like they were motivated to vie for an all-deciding Golden Set. They had scouted the team from the Yamal Region very carefully and after taking a three-point lead towards the end of the set (20-17), the visitors rallied to a 25-21 win.
The course of the game changed dramatically in the second set with Fakel rallying to a 10-4 lead and even though CHAUMONT VB 52 tried hard to come back, they never succeeded in doing so. Victory in the second set paved the way towards gold for NOVY URENGOY – the Russians remained much focussed and after taking a 2-1 lead in the match, they made sure the crown was theirs. They did not stop here though, as they won also the fourth set to crown their success with a 3-1 home victory.
Fakel NOVY URENGOY account for Russia’s second European Cups triumph over the weekend after Dinamo KAZAN had taken the women’s CEV Cup crown on Saturday night.
Click here for more info including detailed stats of the match
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