Olomouc puts up a good fight against the Italian powerhouse in CEV Champions League

Novara, Italy. Igor Gorgonzola Novara and Grupa Azoty Chemik POLICE continue their winning campaigns after celebrating their respective second wins of the week. The Italian side took a straight-set victory against VK UP OLOMOUC and POLICE followed with a clash against Dinamo Ak-Bars KAZAN, which ended in the favour of the Polish club. POLICE and NOVARA will compete for the top place in Pool E on Thursday, while KAZAN is set to play VK UP OLOMOUC for the remaining points available in this Leg of the competition.

VK UP OLOMOUC (CZE) vs Igor Gorgonzola NOVARA (ITA) 0-3 (17-25, 25-27, 20-25)

NOVARA opened the match with a strong 3-8 lead against OLOMOUC, keeping the gap throughout the first set. The Italian team maintained the rhythm in the second set, but VK UP OLOMOUC fought in an amazing comeback, going from 13-19 to level the score at 22-22 and go 23-22 ahead. The hosts managed to get last two points to claim the set. Both teams kept the score tight at the start of the third set and OLOMOUC took the first strong lead in the match with 11-7, but NOVARA even the score to win the final part 20-25. 

• While NOVARA dominated the match overall, OLOMOUC showed a great spirit, making an impressive come back in the second set from 13-19 behind to 23-22 ahead
• Caterina Bosetti was awarded MVP of the game. She helped her team achieving the success with a consistent performance, both in passing-defending (86% of positive reception) and in attacking (55% of score-ratio)
• Elisa Zanette celebrated her all-time debut in the CEV Champions League with 6 points, scoring the crucial attack of first (17-25) and third (20-25) set
• Krista Michaela Bjerregard Madsen was the best attacker of the game with an 80% of winning attacks
• NOVARA team played with a red sign on their right cheek for the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women

Sara Bonifacio, middle-blocker of Igor Gorgonzola NOVARA: “We are happy about the victory and about our campaign so far. OLOMOUC fought a lot and this gave us the chance to keep high the rhythm. This allowed us to change our line-up and everyone could enjoy the battle”.

Krista Michaela Bjerregard Madsen, middle-blocker of VK UP OLOMOUC: “We approached the game with the main target of enjoying it and I am so proud of my team for our performance. Maybe we can regret a little bit just the second set. It was a pity that we couldn’t make it to score the last point”.

Grupa Azoty Chemik POLICE (POL) vs Dinamo Ak-Bars KAZAN (RUS) 3-0 (25 – 21, 25 – 22, 25 – 18)

Grupa Azoty Chemik POLICE record another victory in the CEV Champions League without losing a set so far. The Polish team faced Dinamo Ak-Bars KAZAN on Wednesday night and secured three points, which keeps them second in the table behind Igor Gorgonzola NOVARA. The second set proved most competitive between both teams, but the first and third sets were dominated by consistent performance from POLICE.

• Polish middle blocker Iga Wasilewska was awarded MVP after an outstanding offensive performance with 12 points, 3 blocks and 69% of attack efficiency
• Jovana Brakocevic was the top scorer of the game with 16 points; on the Russian side Tatiana Kadochkina scored 10 points
• The Polish team performed well in block, scoring 10 blocks in 3 sets
• Samantha Bricio and Agnieszka Kakolewska faced each other as opponents after having shared last season’s experience in Scandicci

Iga Wasilewska, middle blocker of Grupa Azoty Chemik POLICE: “We were eager to see our shape when playing three days in a row and it seems that day by day we are feeling better and better on the court. We are very happy about this win and now we will focus on tomorrow game against Novara – we are confident about our chances”.

Samantha Bricio, outside spiker of Dinamo-Ak Bars KAZAN: “We didn’t show our value as a team in the first two days of this tournament. Today our mistakes made the difference, we didn’t play our volleyball and the result was a defeat. We still have a chance to pass the 4th Round, so tomorrow we will have to do our best and secure a victory to react after these two losses”.

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CEV – European Volleyball
CVF – Czech Volleyball Federation
VK UP Olomouc