SISLEY TREVISO – ZAKSA KEDZIERZYN-KOZLE 2-3 (25-17, 22-25, 25-18, 22-25, 11-15)
SISLEY TREVISO: Elgarten, Fei 21, Horstink, Kovar 12, Papi 2, Farina (L), Boninfante 2, De Togni 9, Bontje 11, Maruotti 10, Bjelica 4. DNP Szabo. Coach. Piazza.
ZAKSA KEDZIERZYN-KOZLE: Gladyr 16, Jarosz 17, Kazmierczak 11, Ruciak 7, Urnaut 2, Witczak, Zagumny 3, Idi 11. DNP Pilarz, Swiderski, Wojtowicz.
In the second ‘house’ of Sisley Treviso, the Belluno gym is packed and the fans were up for it. In the first leg of the Cev Cup final, the 50th in the history of the club, Piazza’s team were surprised in the tie-break despite having led 2-1. A breakthrough is now needed on Saturday afternoon in Poland.
Roberto Piazza (coach Sisley Treviso): “We faced a team that played good volleyball. We knew it wouldn’t be easy against Zaksa, but unfortunately in my opinion we lost it on some gifts we made them, especially in reception. In the set won, we played with strength and intensity, I was satisfied, but in the ones lost we gave away too many points, in simple situations, and in such a final that is really bad. Our individual value is better that what we saw tonight, but we made many mistakes especially in reception, and a lot in the tie-break. Still, it’s far from over, we’re going to Poland to redeem ourselves: to take the trophy, you have to win both games, it’s not over yet”.
Alessandro Fei (Sisley Treviso): “We have to stay calm, we have to forget about this game and focus on Saturday. We have to go to Poland and play with intensity, without the lapses we had today. If we play with the right fighting spirit we can make up for today’s mistakes. We need confidence and composure, but we can win this trophy”.
Result
CEV Cup
Final first leg – Wednesday 9 March at 8.30pm
In Belluno
Sisley Treviso (ITA) – Zaksa Kedzierzyn-Kozle (POL) 2-3 (25-17, 22-25, 25-18, 22-25, 11-15)
Fixtures
CEV Cup
Final return leg – Saturday 12 March at 4.30pm
Zaksa Kedzierzyn-Kozle (POL) – Sisley Treviso (ITA) Live on Sportitalia 2
GM Capital Challenge Cup: Macerata dominant
LUBE BANCA MARCHE MACERATA – ARKAS IZMIR 3-0 (25-18, 41-39, 25-23)
LUBE BANCA MARCHE MACERATA: Savani 16, Paparoni (L), Vermiglio 3, Marchiani, Conte 9, Stankovic 4, Martino, Van Walle 1, Omrcen 23, Podrascanin 8. DNP Lampariello, Vadeleux. Coach. Berruto.
ARKAS IZMIR: Tocoglu, Tendar, Subasi 7, Sahin (L), Pereira Bravo 10, Agamez Urango 19, Koc H. 4, Kandemir, Hascan 8, Gök 2. DNP Mészàros, Koc M..
Macerata swept the Turkish side of Izmir in the Challenge Cup final first leg. Berruto’s team made a good step towards the only continental cup missing in the trophy cabinet of the club. However, it will have to win on Sunday in the return leg in Turkey in order to avoid the Golden Set that would decide the final outcome.
Igor Omrcen (Lube Banca Marche Macerata): “First of all, congratulations to Izmir, which proved it was a great team tonight, they made it really hard for us. It was important for us to play with the right attitude, and I think our approach was perfect. We had prepared the game very well and we managed to obtain a very important victory. But that’s not over yet, on Sunday in Turkey it will be a battle, we still have to go and get that cup”.
Glenn Hoag (coach Arkas Izmir): “Macerata won an important game, and I think they are favourite because it is more used than us to play top level games with such intensity. Against such a quality team, we need maximum focus all the time and we must try to make it difficult for them. We don’t have many opportunities to play at a certain rhythm in the Turkish league. Still, we can do much better on certain situations, both technical and tactical, so Sunday we’ll have another go at it”.
Final first leg – Wednesday 9 March at 8.30pm
Lube Banca Marche Macerata (ITA) – Arkas Izmir (TUR) 3-0 (25-18, 41-39, 25-23)
Next round
GM Capital Challenge Cup
Final return leg – Sunday 13 March at 4pm
Arkas Izmir (TUR) – Lube Banca Marche Macerata (ITA) Live on Sportitalia
