Zurich, Switzerland, March 12, 2015.  Eczacibasi VitrA ISTANBUL became the last known participant in the Final Four tournament of the 2015 CEV DenizBank Volleyball Champions League - Women scheduled to take place on April 4 and 5 in Szczecin in Poland.  In a thrilling Playoff 6 second-leg encounter, Volero ZURICH recovered from the big loss in the first leg in Istanbul, beating Eczacibasi VitrA by 3:1 (25-23, 24-26, 29-27, 25-19) only to get downed by 12-15 in the golden set.   Olesia Rykhliuk (28 points) and her teammates were not able to bring off the big coup against Bethania de la Cruz de Pena’s (24 points) Eczacibasi VitrA.

A Herculean task awaited Volero Zurich in this return Playoff match: after the 0:3 defeat in Istanbul, the multiple Swiss champions had to strike back with a 3:0 or a 3:1 victory if they wanted to fight in the golden set for their dream of the second qualification for the Final Four alive.

Dragutin Baltic’s Volero started well into this important game in front of their excited home crowd, since Dobriana Rabadzhieva and Anna Kupriianova blocked out Eczacibasi VitrA ISTANBUL in the very beginning of the set; this strong performance at the net resulted in an 8-4 lead for Volero.  The team from the Bosporus, however, did not give up and responded with their strong blocking game. Volero started to struggle under pressure and had to face a 16-18 deficit; but once again the Swiss could trust in Anna Kupriianova’s strong serves – the Russian laid the foundation of Volero’s 25-23 win in the opening set.

After this important first, however, Volero’s offensive power ebbed away in the very beginning of the second set.  One reason for this down was an incredible serving streak by Maja Poljak. Volero was trailing by 4-9; Dragutin Baltic had to take his time-out – and the multiple Swiss champions seemed to recover as a team: this impressive comeback even resulted in a 21-18 lead for Volero; but like in the first leg game in Istanbul, the Swiss started to struggle, which resulted in eight unforced errors.  Eczacibasi VitrA, on the other hand, fought their way back - and their top scorer Bethania de la Cruz ended the set with a hammer at 26-24.

Volero had to handle the pressure now, since they could not lose another set if they wanted to qualify for the Final Four.  Keeping this in mind, the Swiss were able to take the reins back – and as a consequence, the hosts took a 13-8 lead.  The spectators in the stands started to relax, but Eczacibasi VitrA did not give in and shortened the deficit to 14-15. Volero made a big effort to increase the lead, but the Turkish were always able to tie the game.  The set had to be decided in the extra points.  After six breath-taking rallies Olesia Rykhliuk redeemed her teammates and the home crowd with her closing smash for 29-27.

Despite this bitter loss in the third, Eczacibasi VitrA were willing to decide the game in the fourth set in order to avoid the golden set.  The team from the Bosporus even led by 13-10.  Volero’s Anna Kupriianova, however, brought the hosts back into the game with three strong serves.  The game remained tight now - until it was Nadja Ninkovic’s turn to serve.  The Serbian international player surprised the Turkish team with sharp-angled balls.  Volero were ahead by 21-17 and did not give away this lead until 25-19.  The two teams headed to the golden set.

Volero rushed into this deciding set with an impressive performance: captain Courtney Thompson gave the hosts the early lead with an ace for 1-0 – and the multiple Swiss champions even got a comfortable 5-1 lead.  The home crowd were already celebrating the alleged victory, but Giovanni Caprara’s Eczacibasi VitrA fought their way back into the game with an incredible willingness to save every ball.  This commitment was rewarded with an 11-8 lead after a five-point streak.  Volero were able to tie the game, but eventually fell to the Turkish opponent after the game-winning serve by Eczacibasi’s Maja Poljak for the final score of 15-12.

Volero ZURICH’s assistant coach Jan Lindenmair said:  “We are disappointed.  We were so well prepared and had this big chance to win the game, but just commited these 2-3 stupid errors after leading by 5-1.  We gave Eczacibasi the chance to come back into the game.”

Volero ZURICH’s captain Courtney Thompson explained:  “This is sports.  Eczacibasi made the important points and we did not.  That’s it.”

Eczacibasi VitrA ISTANBUL’s coach Giovanni Caprara:  “Volero played an incredible game today. They changed their game and we had to readapt to it.  Most of all, it was hard to handle Dobriana Rabadzhieva’s attacking power today.”

Eczacibasi VitrA ISTANBUL’s middle blocker Christiane Fuerst:  “We knew it would be a tough game for us here in Zurich. I think the experience we have as individuals in our team helped in this golden set today.  We were willing to give everything in this golden set.”

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