23/01/2014 23:21
Copra Elior wins derby with MACERATA after straight victory and golden set
2014 CEV DenizBank Volleyball Champions League - Men
Piacenza, Italy, January 23, 2014. Italy’s vice champions Copra Elior PIACENZA caused a sensation on Thursday night as they fought their way back after losing the away match in straight sets to their compatriots of Lube Banca Marche MACERATA. They first claimed a 3:0 home victory (25-22, 25-19, and 25-20) and after that also the golden set that followed (15-13). A silver medalist from the 2008 edition of the CEV Volleyball Champions League, Copra Elior PIACENZA will be playing in the Playoffs 6 Russia’s Zenit KAZAN, i.e. the team that back then had edged the Italians in the final match played at the Mosir hall in Lodz, Poland.
Copra Elior needed to claim the return game by 3:0 or 3:1 in order to call for the golden set and re-open the door to the Playoffs 6. They did so as the hosts played a perfect game in a sold-out Palabanca with around 3,500 spectators in attendance. The team of PIACENZA looked completely different than last week at the Palasport Fontescodella in Macerata and imposed their rule right from the start sweeping three sets in a row and then claiming also the always thrilling golden set. The top scorer for the home heroes was Frenchman Kevin Le Roux with 16 points, including two aces and two blocks, while Cuban-born Robertlandy Simon registered 9 with another two aces and two block stuffs. Two real Volleyball stars, 40-year old Samuele Papi and team captain Hristo Zlatanov (pictured) also performed extremely well in what will stay as a night to remember for PIACENZA and for their supporters.
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