27/01/2021 08:40
Saugella MONZA and ŽOK UB to fight for spot in #CEVCupW semis
CEV Volleyball Cup 2021 - Women
Monza, Italy, January 27, 2021. Saugella MONZA and ŽOK UB of Serbia will be playing on Wednesday an all-important match where a place in the semis of the CEV Volleyball Cup 2021 will be at stake. On Tuesday, these two teams claimed their respective 8th Final fixtures in contrasting fashion, with hosts Saugella MONZA sweeping aside Swietelsky BÉKÉSCSABA of Hungary in three sets and ŽOK UB needing five to edge past VK Šelmy BRNO of the Czech Republic.
After enjoying a bye in the previous round due to the withdrawal of their Swiss opponent, Saugella MONZA made no mistake in their European Cups debut this season, as they needed an hour and a half to cruise past their Hungarian rivals. After displaying a dominant performance in the first set, MONZA had to withstand the comeback of Swietelsky BÉKÉSCSABA, who stormed ahead in the second as well as in the third sets with the help of Marta Drpa and Lindsey Vander Weide. However, Saugella MONZA rose to the occasion and with a solid performance by their outside spikers Floortje Meijners and Hanna Orthmann and opposite hitter Lise Van Hecke, the hosts eventually closed the match in three sets (25-16, 29-27, 25-22).
Van Hecke top scored for the winning team with 19 points: “We started very well, but after that, we lacked a bit of intensity and consistency, especially in defence. We felt a bit frustrated but we were able to regroup, eventually securing a victory and the qualification to the next round. We now have to recover and prepare as good as we can for the next match. We must think about our own game and improve, regardless of the opponent.”
Later in the evening, ŽOK UB of Serbia edged VK Šelmy BRNO at the tiebreak to secure the right to play hosts Saugella MONZA in the quarterfinals. The Czechs started well but the Serbian team responded swiftly, claiming the second and third sets, courtesy of Jelena Vulin – who in the end scored 22 points – well supported by Sofija Medic and Sanja Trifunovic. VK Šelmy BRNO found their way back into the game by claiming the fourth set but could not close a dramatic tiebreak in their favour.
On Wednesday, starting at 6 pm CET, Saugella MONZA and ŽOK UB will be locking horns for a spot in the semis, with live streaming of the match available on EuroVolleyTV as well as on the official YouTube channel of the Italian club. The eventual winners will be playing Tent OBRENOVAC of Serbia in the semi-finals.
Elsewhere, Galatasaray HDI ISTANBUL will play DRESDNER SC of Germany in Turkey’s megalopolis in a match where a ticket to the semis will be at stake as well. The next opponent for the winners of this fixture will be France’s BEZIERS Angels.
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