05/12/2019 14:45
SC POTSDAM short of causing sensation in #CEVCupW home match with Dinamo KAZAN
CEV Volleyball Cup 2020 - Women
Potsdam, Germany, December 5, 2019. SC POTSDAM put up a real fight before, after two hours, the hosts eventually lost to pre-favourites Dinamo KAZAN of Russia 2-3 (17-25, 25-18, 25-20, 20-25, 12-15) in their first matchup scheduled for the 16th Finals of the CEV Volleyball Cup 2020 – Women. The result is something only few people would have expected especially since Dinamo KAZAN have been a major force to reckon with on the international stage for many years.
The 910 spectators in the MBS Arena enjoyed a classy and dramatic match as SC POTSDAM played their first international game in many years. Head coach Guillermo Naranjo Hernandez chose the usual starting six with Valerie Nichol, Sofija Medic, Antonia Stautz, Ana Escamilla, Brittany Abercrombie and Lisa Gründing together with libero Aleksandra Jegdic.
Dinamo KAZAN used their physical prowess to claim a comprehensive 25-17 win in the first set, but after that, SC POTSDAM managed to step up the level of their performance and to put up a real fight. With much resilience, good reception and a super block, as well as well prepared to take on Dinamo KAZAN, the home team became an equal opponent to the Russians and the spectators in the MBS Arena paid back with a raucous support.
The hosts set the tempo of the game to secure a 25-18 second-set win and after a close race up to 14-all, they ran away to take the third set as well. Many were wondering whether a sensation was going to happen but Dinamo KAZAN managed to stay cool in the key moments of the fourth set to call for a tiebreak. The fifth set was close up to 10-all, but Dinamo KAZAN used all of their experience to edge out SC POTSDAM 15-12, with the audience responding nevertheless with a warm applause. The result leaves the door open for the Germans ahead of the re-match in Russia in two weeks, but before that, they will be playing a Bundesliga match with Rote Raben VILSBIBURG this Saturday already.
Antonia Stautz, player of SC POTSDAM: “We can be proud of our achievement. The first set, which we lost clearly, we were very excited. The chance to win was there. Unfortunately, in the fifth set, we did not choose the right options. Let’s see what is going to happen in the second game in Russia.”
Lisa Gründing, player of SC POTSDAM: “It was a great performance from the team. We were very close to winning the game. We had a lot of fun. We showed today that we could beat such an opponent. The 2-3 loss was not expected. We can now travel to Kazan, and let’s see what happens there.”
Click here for further information.
|