For the second time in the club’s history and for the second time in a row: Hungarian`s top team Linamar Békéscsabai won this year’s MEVZA Cup title in front of its own audience. VK UP Olomouc had to admit defeat after almost three hours of play and dramatic five sets.
The home team from Békéscsabai started furiously into the Volkswagen MEVZA Final Four final against VK UP Olomouc. Better service and stronger and much more effective in the attack brought a sovereign 2 – 0 lead for the defending champions from Hungary. However, the Czech guests were able to react much better to Linamar Békéscsabai RSE with the third round. As a result, the third and fourth sets went to Olomouc. In addition to the “best player of the tournament”, Diagonal attacker Lucia Fresco, it was probably the change of the setter on the side of the Hungarians who finally made the difference in favour of the hosts. It was up to Linamar after nearly 3 hours and in front of 1,800 frenetic spectators to take the gold medals. Tears of joy flowed even an hour after the last ball was played. Fans, team and coaches were dancing and celebrating much longer.
For Békéscsabai, the victory was the second MEVZA title in the club’s history and the second consecutive title. After Nyíregyháza RK and Eger SK (in the late 1990s), they are the third Hungarian MEVZA champions.
The match for third place also went over the full distance of five sets. Nova KBM Branik Maribor and Mladost Zagreb had an open exchange of blows, which finally was won by the Slovenian team.
