03/09/2015 21:01
Turkey thrash Israel to set sight on European League Finals
2015 CEV Volleyball European League - Women
Ra’anana, Israel, September 3, 2015. On Thursday night Turkey thrashed Israel as these neighbouring countries crossed their ways for the first semi-final round of the 2015 CEV Volleyball European League – Women. It was a night to forget for the hosts of Israel whilst Turkey cruised to a comfortable 3:0 (25-15, 25-18, 25-20) victory to make a huge step forward on their way to the finals. On Sunday, once the re-match is played in Izmir, Turkey will have to win another two sets to secure their spot in the last act of the competition.
Israel opened the match with a 4:2 lead but the score was soon levelled at 10 all before Turkey flipped the charts around and scored six points in a row to call for the second technical time-out by the score of 16:10. Turkey continued to set the pace of the game all the way through to the final 25-15 controlling the game in every single fundamental and making it almost impossible for Israel to score.
Turkey got up early on in the second set (3:1) but at the end of a long and exciting rally, Israel claimed their second point in this stanza. Sofia Starikov cut the deficit of the home team down to one point at 6:5 but Turkey scored another two lead by 8:5 at the first technical time-out. Turkey’s supremacy continued (14:11) and Israel trailed by three points at the second mandatory break. Though Israel’s team captain Moran Zur worked hard to get her side back on track, Turkey did not look back anymore and brought the second set to an end at 25-18 in their favour.
The score remained tight up to 3 all in the third set before Israel went to the front (5:3); the hosts this time seemed to be able to control the game (8:7, 13:11) but Turkey got the upper hand at the second technical time-out though only by the slimmest margin (16:15). A mini break that moved the score to 22:19 Turkey’s way seemed to have decided the fate of the match and with their blockers performing outstandingly the visitors finished it off at 25-20 for a well-deserved straight-set win.
“I am very happy for the win,” said Turkey’s coach Ismail Yengil. “I think we delivered an excellent performance tonight and did so especially at blocking. Our opponents did not stand any real chance tonight. We are now travelling back home and we feel excited ahead of the match coming up on Sunday in Izmir where we will play before our great fans. I am grateful to Israel for their hospitality and wish them the best of luck for the future.”
“I am very upset,” said Israeli mentor Arie Selinger. “Our team captain Moran Zur was ill tonight and so she could not perform to the best of her abilities. On the other hand our young players still lack the experience which is necessary to win this kind of games.”
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