21/11/2012 13:04
ANTWERP claims historic pass for 1/4 finals
2013 CEV Volleyball Cup - Men
Antwerp, Belgium, November 20, 2012. Schelde-Natie Precura ANTWERP historically qualified for the 1/4 finals of the CEV Volleyball Cup by edging on Tuesday – and for the second time in seven days – Isku TAMPERE of Finland in straight sets (25-23, 25-11, and 25-16).
The hosts started out strong in the first set and their combination of solid blocks and good serves paved the way for the 23:17; however, their attacks and reception suddenly fell apart and the Finns could close the gap (24:23) before Mads Ditlevsen finished it off at 25-23. The next two sets were totally dominated by the home side (25-11 and 25-16) that could celebrate its qualification for the 1/4 finals to play there the winner of the clash starring JASTRZEBSKI Wegiel of Poland and Turkey’s Maliye Milli Piyango ANKARA.
“I think the result is quite logic because we did display more quality than they have” says libero Gijs Jorna. “We lost focus only at the end of the first set but after that short blackout we played our best. Perhaps in the next round we can cause another surprise to the delight of this great audience”.
“ANTWERP is a very good team. Our best player had to stay in Finland because he just became father while our libero got injured before the start of the game. This was too much for a young team like ours” stresses Isku head coach Kai Mattila.
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