18/02/2015 23:28
Resovia join Europe’s elite to play Russian Express in Playoffs 6
2015 CEV DenizBank Volleyball Champions League - Men
Rzeszow, Poland, February 18, 2015. Poland’s Asseco Resovia RZESZOW edged Germany’s VfB FRIEDRICHSHAFEN also in the second round of the Playoffs 12, this time by 3:1 (25-18, 25-16, 22-25, 25-17) to move on to the Playoffs 6 of the 2015 CEV DenizBank Volleyball Champions League – Men and play there Russia’s giant and 2013 gold medallists Lokomotiv NOVOSIBIRSK.
After claiming a 3:2 away victory last week on the shores of the Lake of Constance, Asseco Resovia could see off their German opponents in four sets paced by opposite Jochen Schöps (see picture) who top scored with 16 points. Argentinean middle blocker Maximiliano Gauna scored 15 for VfB but still this was not enough for the Germans to make the Playoffs 6.
Asseco Resovia started out very strong leading by 8:2 at the first technical time-out of the opening set. The team from southern Poland got control of the operations (16:8) and continued to set the tempo of the game ultimately cashing the first set by 25-18. The second set followed a similar plot, and after 8:5 and 16:9 leads at the first and second technical time-out respectively, Resovia closed it on at 25-16. VfB started the third set much better and made it 8:6 at the first technical time-out; the visitors still set the tempo of the game leading by three points also at the second technical break and eventually brought the set to an end at 25-22. However, Resovia imposed their pace right from the go of the fourth (8:7). Once more the hosts were cheered on by as many as 4,200 fans at the Podpromie sports hall and they continued to keep control of the game (16:11). Resovia cruised to a well-deserved 3:1 victory (25-17) and could start their celebrations for making the next round of the competition.
“We are really happy that we won and especially with making the Playoffs 6. In third set we had some problems with our service. VfB played better but we came back into the game and ultimately won,” said Andrzej Kowal, the head coach of Asseco Resovia. “For sure we will fight bravely in our matches with Lokomotiv. In sport, everything is possible, anything can happen. The pre-favourites don’t win all the time.”
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