Luxembourg, March 21, 2018. Olympiacos SFP PIRAEUS proved they deserve to contest the final stage of the CEV Challenge Cup as they beat Dinamo KRASNODAR in straight sets. After playing a five setter in the first leg of the semi-final phase, the Greek team hit hard from the beginning of the match, proving a contender for the CEV Challenge Cup trophy. Titleholders BURSA BBSK won against NANTES VB for the second time, achieving a clean score in both games. The Turkish team will be meeting PIRAEUS in the Final in April.
Dinamo KRASNODAR (RUS) vs. Olympiacos SFP PIRAEUS (GRE) 0-3 (20-25, 15-25, 13-25)
- Both teams fought equally from the beginning of the match, but it was a number of mistakes in reception on Dinamo KRASNODAR’s side that allowed Olympiacos SFP PIRAEUS to take the lead and win first set 25-20.
- From that point Olympiacos SFP PIRAEUS took the initiative in the game. Dinamo KRASNODAR tried different combinations to tie the score. Coach Konstantin Ushakov made a few substitutions, but this did not bring the expected result. The set ended with the compelling score of 25-15 for the visitors.
- In the third set, PIRAEUS kept the pace high, claiming an early lead and holding on to it. KRASNODAR did not get a chance to turn the score around and lost 13-25. As a result, Olympiacos SFP PIRAEUS reached the final of the Challenge Cup.
Branko Kovacevic, coach of Olympiacos SFP PIRAEUS: “It was a good game with a good atmosphere. My team showed excellent reception, serve and block. This match was clearly better than the first meeting with Dinamo KRASNODAR in Greece.”
Saskia Hippe, opposite of Olympiacos SFP PIRAEUS: “Back home in the previous match, Dinamo KRASNODAR had a good attack and a high block. This was a surprise for us. As a result, in this match we were focused since the beginning. We have a great team and we showed good volleyball.”
Konstantin Ushakov, coach of Dinamo KRASNODAR: “We did not get well into the game. We had a great desire to win, but not all players were able to cope with their emotions. We could not count on Angelina Sperskaite to play in this match. Reception was our weakest element, with 10 balls lost throughout the match. This is too many to be able to win the match.”
Maria Perepelkina, middle blocker of Dinamo KRASNODAR: “We did not play well in this match. Not in one element. We really wanted to win but Olympiacos SFP PIRAEUS were very strong.”
NANTES VB (FRA) vs. BURSA BBSK (TUR) 0-3 (18-25, 16-25, 23-25)
- NANTES VB, happy to play the CEV Challenge Cup semi-final for the first time in their history, welcomed Turkish competitor BURSA BBSK at Mangin Beaulieu. As they had lost the previous match 0-3, NANTES VB had a big goal as they wanted to push the titleholders to play a decisive Golden Set to qualify to the final.
- In front of massive group of fans (2,263 people!), the French team started the semi-final with an 8-6 lead and the game continued to be tight. NANTES VB played very carefully, led by Pauliina Vilponen, but couldn't win the first set facing a full of confidence Turkish team and their outside spiker Emiliya Dimitrova, who helped them towards a 25-18 win.
- BURSA BBSK increased the intensity of their game at the very beginning of the second set, widening their advantage steady and fast (8-2, 16-6). Despite a good series of points by NANTES VB towards the end of the set, the Turkish club won it 25-16, thus putting an end to NANTES’s hopes of progressing to the next phase.
- NANTES VB, already eliminated from the competition, tried to resist until the end in the last set,but the visitors emerged victorious once more (25-23) to seal another 3-0 victory.
Berit Kauffeldt, middle blocker of NANTES VB: “We played against a better team. BURSA BBSK were stronger than us and we couldn't reverse the trend in this semi-final match.”
Sylvain Quinquis, coach of NANTES VB: “BURSA BBSK didn't give us any chance. They dominated this semi-final, there are no regrets to have. Our journey in this competition is already a good success.”
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