11/12/2012 22:18
SOPOT cruises to incredible home win to advance to Playoffs 12
2013 CEV Volleyball Champions League - Women
Sopot, Poland, December 11, 2012. After
going through many ups and downs since the start of the season, last year’s Poland
national champions Atom Trefl SOPOT qualified for the Playoffs 12 of the 2013
CEV Volleyball Champions League by scoring a 3:0 home win (25-21, 25-18, and 25-15) in the last round of
the prelims as they were hosting Italy’s AsystelCarnaghi VILLA CORTESE. Atom
Trefl finishes the prelims in second place, with the top spot in Pool B taken
by Rabita BAKU. VILLA CORTESE will also continue its European adventure, as the
Italians are the third-ranked team with the best score that in the Playoffs 12
will take up the spot left by the organizer of the final four tournament that
will be announced on Thursday.
The first set was extremely close with the teams playing point for point
until 15:15 before two consecutive aces by Rachel Rourke gave a four-point
advantage to the home team. In the end of the set there were two errors from the
serving line for the guests from Italy and SOPOT went for the final 25-21.
VILLA CORTESE caught a good start in the second set and claimed a margin
of 2 points that was maintained up to 10:12. After the second technical time-out
Atom Trefl got a margin of four (20:16). Coach Caprara did two changes – Sanja
Malagurski for Caterina Bosetti while Natalia Viganò replaced Alexandra
Klineman, but the home team played superbly gaining the second set (25-18).
The beginning of the third set was completely dominated by the home team
(11:4). Three good services by Erika Coimbra, two defenses by libero
Mariola Zenik and a service error of Katarina Batun moved the score up to 15:8
for the hosts. Anna Podolec replaced Erika Coimbra and at the second technical
time-out the score stood at 16:9 for SOPOT. The home team sailed confidently
away (21:11) to go for a well-deserved 3:0 cashing a massive 25-15 to pocket its
pass for the Playoffs 12.
Italian head coach Gianni Caprara said: “Atom Trefl SOPOT deserved this
win, because they played better than we did tonight, that’s all”.
Home mentor Adam Grabowski: “It was our best match. Who came to see us
knows it. Who did not will have some regrets”.
Click here for more info including detailed stats of the match
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