02/03/2016 23:36
Rookies VERONA claim another tie-break win over SETE to move on to Challenge Cup semis
2016 CEV Volleyball Challenge Cup - Men
Sète, France, March 2, 2016. Italy’s Calzedonia VERONA and France’s Arago de SETE played on Wednesday night another five sets as they had done two weeks ago and once more the team around Volleyball legend Andrea Giani had the upper hand (21-25, 25-20, 25-23, 23-25, 15-13) to qualify for the semis of the 2016 CEV Volleyball Challenge Cup in what is their debut season on the European stage. In the next round of the competition VERONA will be playing Portugal’s Benfica LISBOA for a spot in the ‘big finals’.
Two weeks ago in Verona Calzedonia and SETE had played five sets and the Italians had edged their rivals only at the end of a dramatic tie-break which had finished at 21-19. Arago de SETE started the match in style cruising to a 15-5 lead and even though VERONA gradually found their way into the match, they could not compensate for their early setback and ended up losing the set 25-21.
VERONA stepped up their efforts in the second set but SETE fought back time and again. However, the attacks and blocks killed by VERONA made the difference with Taylor Sander and Uros Kovacevic being those who set the pace for the Italians on the way to a 25-20 win.
The battle continued in the third set where VERONA performed at the top of their abilities but SETE were able to rely on their collective effort and team spirit to keep the score tight. The Italians impressed especially with their block and the audience were kind of standing on their feet as the set approached a dramatic and exciting end. Though the French players fought with everything they had, they could not stop the Italian storm and VERONA edged ahead 2-1 in the match after their 25-23 set win.
Still the local fans believed in the chances of their heroes to come from behind and with 1,500 people in attendance for one of the most memorable Volleyball nights Sète had ever witnessed, Daniel Petrov served five times in a row to seal the final 25-23 for the hosts in set four and stretch the match into a tie-break.
Arago de SETE continued to perform strong also in the final set leading 8-4 but VERONA had not surrendered yet. The Italians came back strong and sealed their second tie-break win over the Frenchmen in two weeks (15-13) to qualify for the semis of the Challenge Cup. As for Arago de SETE, their focus will now switch entirely on the French national league.
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