19/01/2016 19:17
2015 gold medallists Eczacibasi come from behind to claim last home match
2016 CEV DenizBank Volleyball Champions League - Women
Istanbul, Turkey, January 19, 2016. On Tuesday afternoon Turkey’s Eczacibasi VitrA ISTANBUL played their last home match in the pool stage of the 2016 CEV DenizBank Volleyball Champions League – Women and eventually got to celebrate a hard-fought 3-2 victory over Czech champions Agel PROSTEJOV (25-21, 18-25, 22-25, 28-26, 15-12) after coming from behind and surviving a real scare in the fourth set.
After losing the first rally of the match, Eczacibasi VitrA responded with Rosir Calderon’s spectacular spike. After that Jordan Larson-Burbach and Calderon scored a few times to call for the first technical time-out (8-6). The positive series of the home side continued for the next two rallies and at 10-6 for Eczacibasi VitrA the mentor of Agel, Miroslav Cada stopped the game. While Sonja Borovinsek was standing behind the service line, Agel scored four points in a row to eventually edge ahead (11-10). However, at the second technical time-out, the score stood at 16-13 for Eczacibasi VitrA. After the time-out, Agel’s spiker, Melissa Teresa Vargas scored with a spectacular block to close in at 16-14. Even though the players of Agel stepped up their efforts, Eczacibasi VitrA finished the opening set at 25-21. Eczacibasi VitrA’s Cuban-born outside spiker, Rosir Calderon Diaz finished the set on six points.
Eczacibasi VitrA started the second set with two points in a row (2-0). However, as the home team’s players started making mistakes, Agel claimed an 8-7 lead at the first technical time-out. After another two points scored by the visiting team, Eczacibasi VitrA’s coach Giovanni Caprara stopped the game at 10-7. Eczacibasi VitrA’s outside spikers tried to close the gap; however, Agel stretched their lead to three points at 16-13. Agel’s attacks moved the score to 20-15 for the Czech champions and this forced Caprara to call for his second time-out. Even though Larson-Burbach scored a couple of times to reduce the gap, Vargas’s attacks finished the second set 25-18 after 16-year old Cuban rising star registered as many as six points on her own.
The third set started with an ace for Agel by Tatsiana Markevich. Rosir Calderon’s attacks were like a show and paved the way for an 8-6 lead for the home team at the first technical time-out. Jordan Larson’s ace and Rosir Calderon’s attack forced the mentor of Agel to stop the game at 11-7. After the break, the visitors scored five points in a row and Caprara stopped the game at 12-11 for the Czechs. The MVP of the 2015 CEV DenizBank Volleyball Champions League Finals, Jordan Larson-Burbach, scored to call the second technical time-out with Eczacibasi leading the way 16-15. The mentor of the home team changed Büsra Kilicli and Christiane Fürst at 17-16. However, Agel’s players continued to score and Caprara took his second time-out when his side trailed 21-18. Still, Agel were able to hold on to their lead and won the third set 25-22 to get the edge in the match.
Eczacibasi VitrA started the fourth set with two spectacular points leading by 2:0. However, the away team responded immediately and claimed an 8-6 lead at the first technical time-out via the attacks of their outside spikers. When Agel’s players started making mistakes from the service line, Eczacibasi VitrA were able to close the gap (12-12). The home team’s captain, Neslihan Demir Güler scored a spectacular point for 14-13; however, she got injured after this action. After Neriman Özsoy’s block, the hosts claimed a 16-15 lead at the second technical time-out. Giovanni Caprara took his first break at 21-20. However, this did not help the hosts and Caprara had to stop the game again at 23-23. After some truly spectacular actions, Jordan Larson’s attack finished the fourth set 28-26 for Eczacibasi.
The final set began with consecutive points scored by each team. After Turkish setter Nilay Özdemir’s block, the teams switched side of the court with Eczacibasi leading 8-5. Neriman Özsoy’s attack forced the mentor of Agel to call for a time-out (9-5). After actions resumed, Caprara asked for a time-out as well at 10-8 before home star Neriman Özsoy eventually finished the set and match (15-12).
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