05/04/2017 20:33
Dinamo MOSCOW thrash MODENA again to challenge Final Four hosts in semis
2017 CEV Volleyball Champions League - Women
Moscow, Russia, April 5, 2017. Dinamo MOSCOW will be making their first appearance at a Final Four of the CEV Volleyball Champions League – Women since 2009 after they comfortably claimed also the second round of their Playoffs 6 fixture with Italy’s Liu Jo Nordmeccanica MODENA. Dinamo MOSCOW rallied to a second 3-0 victory (25-20, 25-19, 25-21) in as many matches and on April 22 the Russians will challenge hosts Imoco Volley CONEGLIANO in the semis for a spot in the ‘grand finale’ of the competition.
Though Dinamo MOSCOW had cruised to a comfortable 3-0 victory in Italy two weeks ago, everyone expected the rematch to be a lot more challenging. However, the Muscovites looked extremely motivated to progress to the next stage of the competition and claimed an early 6-2 lead in the first set. MODENA closed in at 7-5 but after that, the visitors made many mistakes and could not find a way through the Russian block, thus helping Dinamo MOSCOW shape up a 14-10 lead. Nataliya Goncharova set the pace for the hosts and Yana Shcherban spectacularly closed the first set at 25-20.
Dinamo MOSCOW looked even more in control in the second set and at the end of a long rally, Bethania de la Cruz scored to contribute to an 8-2 lead for the Russians. Though the Italians attempted a comeback and they reduced their deficit to three points (18-15), Dinamo played a perfect game and with their 25-19 win, the Muscovites secured their progression to the Final Four. The third set did not have any significance and Dinamo initially lost focus but eventually regrouped to finish the match by pulling out a 3-0 victory.
Yury Panchenko, head coach of Dinamo MOSCOW: “Everything went just fine for us! We will play in the Final Four and we will go to Treviso! We feel a great deal of responsibility.”
Top scorer Nataliya Goncharova (14 points): “We were well prepared and were able to win two matches in a row. After the second set we knew we had qualified for the Finals but it was important to regroup and to win 3-0.”
Ekaterina Kosianenko, setter of Dinamo MOSCOW: “I have seen many times how important it is to study your opponent. We analysed MODENA very carefully and thanks to this, our performance and game was a lot more effective.”
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