NOVARA and EKATERINBURG fly to final of CEV Cup

Women’s CEV Cup Final Four 2009

Novara, Italy, March 14, 2009. In today’s semi-finals of the Women’s CEV Cup Final Four 2009, host Asystel Volley NOVARA (in straight sets against Fenerbahce Acibadem ISTANBUL) as well as Uralochka NTMK EKATERINBURG (3:2 versus Rote Raben VILSBIBURG) continued their winning streak, qualifying for Sunday’s gold medal match (18.00 local time) here in Novara (Italy). ISTANBUL and VILSBIBURG will play for bronze (15.30).

The guests from Fenerbahce Acibadem ISTANBUL immediately took command in today’s first semi-final in Novara, when the Turks delighted the 2’300 spectators in “Sports Village” with a fierily start against host NOVARA (9-6). However, Cristina Barcellini disagreed with a Turkish solo when she served three times in a row, taking the lead at 10-9. Fenerbahce lost the momentum, whilst the hosts gained enough confidence to continue their run (19-15). Especially on the net the team of head coach Luciano Pedullà surpassed their opponents. Two Paggi block kills put Asystel over the edge, 25-18. The fragility in ISTANBUL’s team didn’t disappear in set two; particularly in defense the Turks couldn’t find an accurate solution against Feng’s fast offensive combinations (13-9). Four Fenerbahce points in a row leveled the game at 14-14, but it was not enough. The hosts regained control when Barcellini fired wild from the left (20-17) and Osmokrovic scored with a soft tip from back row (22-18). Paggi closed it some moments later with another block kill (25-22). ISTANBUL head coach Jan De Brandt replaced starting setter Parkhomenko with 38-year old Kuliyeva, but the Italian squat seemed still to control the game in the third set (10-6). However, the Turks fired back fearlessly, turning around the score in their favor (19-18). The game now balanced on a knife's edge (20-20, 22-22). Kozuch with a clever winner from the left and Osmokrovic on duty on the net brought up match point for the Italians, before Barcellini ended it with a blistering service ace (25-22).

“We proved tonight that we are able to play our best volleyball in the most important moments”, said NOVARA head coach Luciano Pedullà. We showed a fine performance, now we’re looking forward to tomorrow’s final. Ekaterinburg have an excellent block and defense system.” “Congratulations to Novara’s team, they played very well today”, commented Istanbul’s head coach Jan De Brandt. “We couldn’t find any solution to defend Asystel’s fast offensive game. They have so many different options in attack.”

In the second semi-final match, Uralochka NTMK EKATERINBURG overcame Rote Raben VILSBIBURG after five hard-fought sets. Leading 16-11 at the second technical timeout in set one, the Russians assured their role as favorite, whilst the Germans couldn’t stand the pace. Even when Vilsbiburg fought back bravely (18-21), Nikolay Karpol’s ladies kept the upper hand in the most important moments of the set (25-19). But the team of head coach Guillermo Gallardo was far for giving up when they started the second set with a well deserved 8-5 lead at the second technical time-out. The Germans put a lot of pressure on the Russian defense, whilst EKATERINBURG lost their rhythm from the first set. Karpol called an early time-out at 8-13, and when Gomez, some rallies later, scored on the left, the gap was almost closed (16-17). Gomez again saved a first German set point at 23-24, before the Russian ended it in their favor (26-24). But VILSBIBURG didn’t throw in the towel, fighting courageously till 24-24 in the third set. When Gomez brought up match point, the Russian victory seemed an incontrovertible fact. However, it was not good enough, as German’s Mapeli blocked VILSBIBURG in heaven (27-25). EKATERINBURG now completely lost the momentum, trailing 9-16 at the second technical time-out in set 4. The German game suddenly clicked like clockwork whilst the Russian spikers couldn’t find a way to overcome VILSBIBURG’s monster block (21-13). Captain Regina Burchardt closed it with a scorching winner from the left (25-15). The Germans tried to keep the rhythm in the fifth and deciding set, but Karpol’s team now was at its best (8-5). Setter Sheshenina forced the pace, and Beloborodova did the rest on the net. Gomez brought up match point at 14-6, before she finished it from the right (15-8), securing Uralochka a spot in tomorrow’s gold medal match against NOVARA.

Coach legend Nikolay Karpol said: “It was an interesting match for the public, with a lot of long rallies and a thrilling fifth set. But both teams did too many mistakes during the match, but showed great winning spirit. We’re looking forward to tomorrow’s game against Novara.”

The final match of the Women’s CEV Cup Final Four 2009 is scheduled for Sunday, March 15, 18.00 (local time) in “Sporting Village” in Novara.

Picture Gallery
Results

Women’s CEV Cup 2009
Final Four in Novara (ITA)

Results and further match schedule (all times CET)

Saturday, March 14:
Asystel Volley NOVARA vs. Fenerbahce Acibadem ISTANBUL 3:0 (25-18, 25-22, 25-22)
Uralochka NTMK EKATERINBURG vs. Rote Raben VILSBIBURG 3:2 (25-19, 26-24, 25-27, 15-25, 15-8)

Sunday, March 15:
15.30  Bronze medal match: ISTANBUL vs. VILSBIBURG
18.00   Gold medal match: NOVARA vs. EKATERINBURG  

For more information as live score, results, pictures as well as statistics please visit www.cev.lu.