18/02/2018 17:49
Knack ROESELARE claim third national cup title before 10,000-strong crowd
News from the clubs
Antwerp, Belgium, February 18, 2018. With a hard-fought 3-1 victory (25-22, 23-25, 25-16, 25-23) over eternal rivals Noliko MAASEIK, titleholders Knack ROESELARE added yet another trophy to their tally. For team captain Hendrik Tuerlinckx and his colleagues, it was the third Belgian Cup title in a row, the second against Noliko MAASEIK.
Some 10,000 spectators in the Antwerp Sportpaleis immediately got spoiled with a thrilling first set: only at 15-13, Knack ROESELARE managed to create the first two-point gap. However, after 17-all, Pieter Coolman anchored Knack ROESELARE to a first set win by scoring two aces and a kill block at set point (25-22).
With Knack team captain Tuerlinckx slowly having the upper hand in the duel of the opposite hitters with Jolan Cox, ROESELARE took an early lead in the second set (10-7). Noliko youngster Kamil Rychlicki turned the tide with a strong service run and Cox’s substitute Sebastian Gevert immediately added another pair of attacks for 19-15. With an ace and a kill block, Tuerlinckx closed the gap at 23-23. Yet, MAASEIK were happy to see Coolman missing his spike at set point (25-23).
Knack ROESELARE set the pace once again in set three. Middle blocker Arno Van de Velde and outside hitter Matthijs Verhanneman pushed their team to an 11-7 advantage. Gevert seemed to bring Noliko back in the battle at 12-13, but the defence of Knack, led by libero Stijn Dejonckheere took complete control over Noliko’s game (25-16).
With the confidence resulting from a 2-1 lead, Knack ROESELARE quite easily wiped away Noliko’s early 6-2 lead in set four: 8-7. Captain Jelte Maan, who had entered the game, restored the gap at 12-8. However, after trailing at 17-13, the ‘Blues’ levelled at 17-all and MAASEIK lost their top scorer Rychlicki with a muscular injury. Knack setter Angel Trinidad de Haro added two crucial points for 21-19 and 24-22, before his counterpart Jay Blankenau sent his serve out of bounds (25-23).
Knack ROESELARE team captain Hendrik Tuerlinckx once again topped the scorers’ charts with 24 points, with Coolman and Verhanneman adding 13 each. For Noliko, Jolan Cox scored 16, Rychlicki 13 and Nicolas Bruno 9.
“We were really ready for this game,” Verhanneman of Knack ROESELARE said. “The whole week we felt focused in the build-up towards this Cup final. Once again, we showed we could fight on such an important occasion. This victory feels even better than last year’s win against MAASEIK, since their opposition was tougher this time.”
Noliko captain Jelte Maan was obviously disappointed. “I am, especially since Knack ROESELARE didn’t play very well. However, that means we were even worse. This game also proves no one is the favourite for such a final, even if we were 3-0 up in our previous encounters this season.”
Fifth straight women’s title for Asterix Avo BEVEREN
Asterix Avo BEVEREN, formerly known as Asterix KIELDRECHT, lived up to all expectations by winning their fifth Belgian Cup in a row, the 15th in the last 21 years. Their challengers, VC OUDEGEM, the last team to beat Asterix in a cup final back in 2013, could not stand the power of the young Yellow Tigers-to-be, who secured a comprehensive 3-0 victory (25-21, 25-15, 25-19).
Runners-up VC OUDEGEM showed their determination by forcing an early three-point lead in the first set at 12-9. With nine points of her own, Yellow Tiger Celine Van Gestel replied furiously and broke the last resistance of the opposition at 23-21 to pave the way towards a 25-21 win.
Asterix felt confident and setter Jasmien Biebauw launched her team to a comfortable 17-11 lead in the second set, with Van Gestel closing it out at 25-15.
VC OUDEGEM regrouped around setter Elise Van Sas and Lorena Cianci, but after the first technical time-out (8-6), Asterix posted block after block and stormed to a convincing 19-11. VC OUDEGEM clawed back until 19-16, but saw their last hopes disappear when Marlies Janssens scored the match point for 25-19.
Van Gestel crowned herself top scorer with 22 points, while her teammate Nathalie Lemmens had eight. For VC OUDEGEM, Croatian Barbara Djapic scored 15 times, Cianci and Vandendriessche 10 apiece.
Lotte Vandendriessche, player of VC OUDEGEM: “We could not come as close to Asterix as we did in the league games because of the pressure. Asterix are used to play this final year after year, for us it was only the second time, and the first time with this young group.”
Gert Vande Broek, head coach of Asterix: “This was clearly our best game of the season. I had expected a much harder fight, but my players showed a very mature attitude, so I am very pleased with the performance of my girls.”
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