Iskra ODINTSOVO advances to Challenge Round after scoring second victory in Poland

2009/2010 CEV Cup - Men

Czestochowa, Poland, February 2, 2010. After having notched the first match-up last week in Russia, Iskra ODINTSOVO needed to score a single set tonight in the return game against Domex Tytan AZS CZESTOCHOWA to qualify for the Challenge Round of the CEV Cup. The Russians did so and even seized the match in four sets (25-20, 23-25, 26-24, 25-21) to play France’s TOURS VB in the next stage of the competition.
The match started off with a series of mighty attacks and the score stayed initially very close. After a Russian block on Bartosz Janeczek time had come for the first technical break (at 8:6 for the guests). With a few good attacks of Bartosz Janeczek the Poles tied at 10 but then could not stop Jochen Schöps and Pavel Kruglov. At 16:17 Jochen Schöps played a major role in extending the lead for Iskra and with the final 25-20 the Russians had already clinched their berth for the Challenge Round.
In the second set both teams decreased their unforced errors and battled point after point. With a good reception both teams could show some real masterpieces in attack. At 21:22, after an attack of Krzysztof Wierzbowski fell off the court, local coach Grzegorz Wagner took a break for his guys. The break brought some positive feedback: soon after Fabian Drzyzga successfully finished his attack and in the next action he served an ace. At 23:23 Iskra's players touched the net with their block and a few seconds later Wojciech Gradowski finished the job for the 1:1 in the set count.
In the third set, after a tie at 11, the Russians sailed away, but their margin was reduced up to two points at 18:20. Unfortunately it was too late for the Poles to try a comeback. Andrzej Wrona blocked Anton Mysin for the 24:24. It was the last chance for the hosts since Anton Astashenkov with his successful attack provided a first set ball for his team and a faulty attack of Tony Kankaanpaa finished the third set.
The hosts hit very hard in the fourth set and led the way up to the second technical break. At 21:18, after some very solid rallies for the hosts, all the fans that had resumed in the Hala Polonia believed in the victory of their guys. The very good serves and attacks from the middle of Andrey Egorchev brought the score to tie at 21:21. Soon after Lukasz Wisniewski touched the net in block and in the next action Finn Tony Kankaanpaa was blocked. The last two points of the set - and eventually of the match – fully belonged to Andrey Egorchev. Iskra closed 25-21 to move into the Challenge Round with the right mood.

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