SANT’ORSOLA ASYSTEL NOVARA CLOSE TO FIRST DEFEAT

Women's Indesit European Champions' League 2004/05

Luxembourg, January 5, 2005. Turkey’s Besiktas ISTANBUL were near to a big surprise during the seventh week matches of the Women’s Indesit European Champions’ League 2004/05 when taking the undisputed Pool B leader Sant’Orsola Asystel NOVARA from Italy to five sets, but finally losing the tiebreak 13-15. Pool B contender Azerrail BAKU from Azerbaijan took over second place from defending champion TENERIFE Marichal after their straight set victory over Serb Crvena Zvezda BEOGRAD. In Pool A French RC CANNES had a tough time against the Russians from EKATERINBURG (3:2), whilst Italian Foppapedretti BERGAMO was never in danger against Günes Vakifbank ISTANBUL from Turkey.

Not having conceded one match in the Indesit European Champions’ League 2004/05 so far the Italian favourite Sant’Orsola Asystel NOVARA were close to a negative start into the new year when their Turkish opponent Besiktas ISTANBUL proved a more than tough opposition. The Italians, who left three of their top players at home, namely Romanian middle blocker Juliana Nucu, as well as spikers Virginie De Carne from Belgium and Polish star Malgorzata Glinka, almost had to pay the consequences but thanks to Besiktas’ mistakes in the last points of the tiebreak the favourites booked their eighth victory in a row. The match witnessed by 1,100 spectators started with a storming Italian team who constantly put the home squad under pressure with strong serving (19-25). From the second set onwards Besiktas reduced the number of their mistakes and at the same time increased the speed of their game which won them the second set 25-20 (1:1). The guests recovered quick, regaining the lead after winning the third set (1:2), especially thanks to the outstanding performance by Sara Anzanello, the player of the match. However, the Turks never gave up the fight and were soon awarded with the fourth set win (25-22). Even though Besiktas started the tie-break set stronger than NOVARA, they didn’t manage to sustain their four-point advantage. At the end Sant’Orsola Asystel NOVARA finished the tiebreak in their favour (13-15), booking the two points for a victory to remain at the top of Pool B. During the press conference Angiolino Frigoni, head coach of Sant’Orsola Asystel NOVARA declared that Besiktas has a very good defense but they lacked an effective attack. The important thing for the guest team’s coach was to win which they succeeded to do. Sara Anzanello, captain of the Italian team, stated: “Our defense suffered from a lack of concentration, but we’re happy to have won after all.” Cengiz Gollu, head coach of Besiktas ISTANBUL, commented: “We lost the match in the fifth set due to our lack of experience. We also committed quite a few individual errors, but on the whole we played well.” Despite of playing well the local players couldn’t avoid the many easy mistakes so that the match was lost at the end, mentioned Besiktas captain Arzu Gollu, “We’re sad because we missed a very good opportunity.”
Azerrail BAKU celebrated their fifth victory in seven matches after outperforming Serbian Crvena Zvezda BEOGRAD for the second time in three straight sets. Hence, Sant’Orsola Asystel NOVARA remains the only team to have beaten the Azerbaijan formation. “We definitely had to win this match”, announced local head coach Faig Garayev, “However, it wasn't an easy match.” On the other side Zoran Terzic was happy for his team, stating: “I am very glad for my team, as this wasn’t a very difficult match for us. I hope that in other games we will also show our best.” The best players of the game were Milica Budimir from Crvena Zvezda BEOGRAD and Natalia Mammadova from Azerrail BAKU who also scored the most points. After the game the captain of the Azerbaijan team Alla Hasanova stated. “I am very proud of my team. It is a pity that I am injured so that I could only support.”
In Pool A Uralochka EKATERINBURG from Russia finally lost to French RC CANNES in a tiebreak set after putting up a great fight which lasted over one and a half hours. While confidently claiming the first set the home team failed to score after 25-25 in the second run, finally allowing the French favourite to draw balance (25-27). Leading all the way through the third set Uralochka managed to finish it with success (25-23). The fourth set was not a challenge for CANNES and after excellent volleyball throughout the final deciding set CANNES managed to retain their lead to claim their fifth overall victory in the Indesit European Champions League. This win positions RC CANNES in second spot of Pool A, whilst Uralochka remains last. Zoila Barros and Yumilka Ruiz led Uralochka in points (17 and 16 points each) whereas CANNES’ captain Victoria Ravva scored alone 31 points, showing a volleyball game to perfection.
In the final match of the day Pool A favourite Foppapedretti BERGAMO from Italy overthrew Turkish Günes Vakifbank ISTANBUL in three straight sets, booking their seventh win in a row. In presence of 3,200 spectators in Treviglio’s Palazzetto dello Sport the Italian team confirmed their top pool position when the players of Gianni Caprara gave the visiting team from Turkey hardly a chance to fight back.

 
Women’s Indesit European Champions League 2004/05, Pool rounds, 7^th leg
Wednesday, January 5, 2005

Preliminary Pool A

Foppapedretti BERGAMO (ITA) - Günes Vakifbank ISTANBUL (TUR)	3:0	25-17, 25-13, 25-20	70 mins
Uralochka NTMK EKATERINBURG (RUS) - RC CANNES (FRA)	2:3	25-20, 25-27, 25-23, 15-25, 12-15	112 mins

 
Preliminary Pool B

Azerrail BAKU (AZE) - Crvena Zvezda BEOGRAD (SCG)	3:0	30-28, 25-21, 25-23	74 mins
Besiktas ISTANBUL (TUR) - Sant’Orsola Asystel NOVARA (ITA)	2:3	19-25, 25-21, 20-25, 25-22, 13-15	107 mins

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Enjoy & Be There:
11-13 January 2005:  Austrian Airlines Top Teams Cup Men, 1/4 final Away matches.
11-13 January 2005: Top Teams Cup Women, 1/4 final Away matches.
18-20 January 2005: Indesit European Champions’ League, Women 9^th leg, Men 10^th leg.
20 January 2005: Indesit European Champions’ League, Men Drawing of Lots, Luxembourg.
25 January 2005: Indesit European Champions’ League, Women 10^th leg.
26 January 2005: Indesit European Champions’ League, Women Drawing of Lots, Luxembourg.
29 January 2005: Youth European Championships 2005, Drawing of Lots, Riga, Latvia.
08-10 February 2005: Indesit European Champions’ League, Playoffs Women & Men, Home matches.
15-17 February 2005: Indesit European Champions’ League, Playoffs Women & Men, Away matches.
01-03 March 2005: Indesit European Champions’ League, Playoffs Men, Home matches.
08-10 March 2005: Indesit European Champions’ League, Playoffs Men, Home matches.