WEEK OF SURPRISES IN WOMEN’S COMPETITION

Women's Indesit European Champions' League 2005/06

Luxembourg, October 28, 2005. The second leg of the women’s Indesit European Champions’ League carried several surprises. Azerrail BAKU from Azerbaijan was responsible for the biggest upset by winning at home against Italian Pallavolo Sirio PERUGIA (3:2), whilst Turkish Vakifbank Günes ISTANBUL shocked former champion TENERIFE Marichal from Spain.

The victory of Azerrail BAKU against 2003/04 IECL runner up and 2004/05 CEV Cup champion Pallavolo Sirio PERUGIA belongs to one of the biggest surprise of the second leg in the Indesit European Champions’ League so far. Although the team from Azerbaijan lost their first home match last week against Vakifbank Günes ISTANBUL, they bounced back extremely well, defeating Pallavolo Sirio PERUGIA, one of the main contenders for the title, in a nail-biting five-set thriller. Up until 17-16 in the fourth set the Italians were under control, but from that moment on the home squad from Azerbaijan, Final Four participant in 2004, grabbed the momentum and finally decided the match 3:2 in their favour.
Natalya Mammadova was once again best scorer, booking a total 36 points. On the Italian side, Bulgarian Antonina Zetova was the leading player with 19 points.

The second upset of the week took place in the Turkish city of Istanbul where Vakifbank Günes ISTANBUL overthrew 2003/04 Indesit European Champions’ League winner TENERIFE Marichal. Taking the first two sets it looked as if the team from Turkey were cruising to a straight set victory. But the Spanish champion and cup winner came back, seizing the next two sets (39-37, 25-20). Playing at home gave Vakifbank Günes ISTANBUL the final advantage, claiming their second victory in a fifth set (15-12).
“We played extremely well at the beginning, but my team stopped playing after losing the third set”, Vakifbank Günes ISTANBUL coach Vlodomir Buzayev stated, “Fortunately, we served well in the fifth set which decided the match in our favour.”
“We started playing too late”, TENERIFE Marichal coach José Manuel Gonzales replied.

Hotel Cantur LAS PALMAS, the other Spanish team in the Indesit European Champions’ League, booked their second victory in a row defeating Uralochka NTMK EKATERINBURG, who are still without a win this season. The Spanish runner up retained control over the entire match, solely losing concentration at the end of the third set, which was taken by the Russian team coached by the famous Nikolai Karpol and former star Valentina Ogyenko. After losing the third set, the Spanish formation seized an early 8-1 lead which sufficed to finally claim a 3:1 victory.
“Our aim is to reach the last six of the Indesit European Champions’ League”, Hotel Cantur LAS PALMAS coach Sergio Camarero stated, “Therefore we are very happy about this important victory over the strong Russian team.”
Best scorer of the match was Russian Aleksandra Pasynkova (21 points), whilst Luciana Marques scored most points for LAS PALMAS (18 points).

RC CANNES from France, another former champion, didn’t give Indesit European Champions’ League newcomer CAT TROFA from Portugal a chance, beating them 3:0. RC CANNES player Eva Yaneva was the best scorer with 17 points.
Four teams still remain undefeated following the second leg. In Pool A, RC CANNES, Foppapedretti BERGAMO and Hotel Cantur LAS PALMAS stand with a perfect 2-0 win/lose record. In Pool B, only Vakifbank Günes ISTANBUL won all of their matches so far.

More action in the women’s Indesit European Champions’ League on Wednesday, when three more matches are scheduled. All eyes will be set on the Pool B clash between Pallavolo Sirio PERUGIA and Vakifbank Günes ISTANBUL. From the three matches on Thursday the encounter between RC CANNES and Foppapedretti BERGAMO will be the clash not to miss.

Picture Gallery

TV Schedules

Women’s Indesit European Champions League 2005/06
Results, League Round, 2^nd leg

Preliminary Pool A 

Hotel Cantur LAS PALMAS (ESP) - Uralochka NTMK EKATERINBURG (RUS)	3:1	25-16, 25-20, 26-28, 25-16
Foppapedretti BERGAMO (ITA) - Eczacibasi ISTANBUL (TUR)	3:1	25-20, 23-25, 25-16, 25-19
CAT TROFA (POR) - RC CANNES (FRA)	0:3	18-25, 13-25, 21-25

Pool A Ranking after 2nd leg

 1. RC CANNES 2-4 (6:1), 2. Foppapedretti BERGAMO 2-4 (6:1), 3. Hotel Cantur LAS PALMAS 2-4 (6:1), 4. Eczacibasi ISTANBUL 2-2 (2:6), 5. Uralochka NTMK EKATERINBURG 2-2 (1:6), 6. CAT TROFA 2-2 (0:6)


Preliminary Pool B

Azerrail BAKU (AZE) - Pallavolo Sirio PERUGIA (ITA)	3:2	14-25, 25-22, 21-25, 25-17, 15-13
Vakifbank Günes ISTANBUL (TUR) - TENERIFE Marichal (ESP)	3:2	25-14,25-22, 37-39, 20-25, 15-12
Calisia KALISZ (POL) - Mladost ZAGREB (CRO)	3:0	29-27, 25-21, 25-15

Pool B Ranking after 2nd leg

1. Vakifbank Günes ISTANBUL 2-4 (6:4), 2. Pallavolo Sirio PERUGIA 2-3 (5:3), 3. TENERIFE Marichal 2-3 (5:3), 4. Azerrail BAKU 2-3 (5:5), 5. Calisia KALISZ 2-3 (3:3), 6. Mladost ZAGREB 2-2 (0:6)

Further Match Schedule, League Round, 3rd leg
Women Preliminary Pool A

02.11.2005	19.00	Uralochka NTMK EKATERINBURG (RUS) - CAT TROFA (POR)
02.11.2005	15.30	Eczacibasi ISTANBUL (TUR) - Hotel Cantur LAS PALMAS (ESP)
03.11.2005	19.00	RC CANNES (FRA) - Foppapedretti BERGAMO (ITA)

Women Preliminary Pool B

02.11.2005	20.30	Pallavolo Sirio PERUGIA (ITA) - Vakifbank Günes ISTANBUL (TUR)
03.11.2005	18.00	Mladost ZAGREB (CRO) - Azerrail BAKU (AZE)
03.11.2005	20.00	TENERIFE Marichal (ESP) - Calisia KALISZ (POL)

More on the net (including live scores, TV schedule, photos and other information) at www.cev.lu

More on the web at www.cev.lu

Enjoy & Be There:

01-03 November 2005: Indesit European Champions League, League Round, Men & Women, 3rd leg, Various
01-03 November 2005: Austrian Airlines Top Teams Cup Men, League Round, 2nd leg, Various
01-03 November 2005: Top Teams Cup Women, League Round, 2nd leg, Various
04-06 November 2005: CEV Cup Women, Qualification Tournament, 2nd Round, Various
08-10 November 2005: Indesit European Champions League, League Round, Men, 4th leg, Various
08-10 November 2005: Austrian Airlines Top Teams Cup Men, 4th leg, Various
11-13 November 2005: CEV Cup Men, Qualification Tournament, 2nd Round, Various
29 November - 01 December 2005: Indesit European Champions League, League Round, Women, 4th leg, Various
29 November - 01 December 2005: Top Teams Cup Women, League Round, 3rd leg, Various
06-08 December 2005: Indesit European Champions League, League Round, Men & Women, 5th leg, Various
06-08 December 2005: Top Teams Cup Women, League Round, 4th leg, Various
06-08 December 2005: Austrian Airlines Top Teams Cup Men, 4th leg, Various
13-15 December 2005: Indesit European Champions League, League Round, Men & Women, 6th leg, Various
13-15 December 2005: Top Teams Cup Women, League Round, 5th leg, Various
13-15 December 2005: CEV Cup Men & Women, 1/8 Final, Home matches
13-15 December 2005: Austrian Airlines Top Teams Cup Men, League Round, 5th leg, Various
20 December 2005: Top Teams Cup Women, League Round, 6th leg, Various
21 December 2005: Austrian Airlines Top Teams Cup Men, League Round, 6th leg, Various
20-22 December 2005: Indesit European Champions League, League Round, Men & Women, 7th leg, Various
20-22 December 2005: CEV Cup Men & Women, 1/8 Final, Away matches