2013 Challenge Cup final
2013 Challenge Cup – Final first leg
Ural Ufa (RUS) – Copra Elior Piacenza (ITA) 0-3 (12-25, 22-25, 30-32)
URAL UFA – COPRA ELIOR PIACENZA 0-3 (12-25, 22-25, 30-32)
URAL UFA: Zhloba, Kazakov 1, Abramov 9, Botin, Vissotto Neves 12, Falasca Fernandez 2, Ashchev 6, Alekseev 1, Samoylenko 3, Spiridonov 5, Verbov (L), Panteleymonenko 4. Coach. Frigoni.
COPRA ELIOR PIACENZA : Marra (L), Corvetta, Papi 9, Fei 19, Simon Aties 5, Zlatanov 16, Holt 8, Tencati 2, Vettori, De Cecco 3. DNP Ogurcak, Maruotti. Coach. Monti.
Despite the ten days without any official game, Piacenza was red hot from the start and disposed of Ural Ufa in just under an hour and a half in the Challenge Cup final first leg in Russia. Zlatanov and co, who made it 11 wins in a row in the competition, cruised through the first set, the Russians reacted in the second and gave a real test to the Italians in the third. Fei scored 19, Zlatanov added 16 (3 blocks), while Holt worked wonders on the serve. As for the Russians, Vissotto was the top scorer with 12 points. All in all, Piacenza dominated in every area of the game, aces (8-2), reception (62% vs 48%), attack (53% vs 44%) and blocks (9-3).
Luca Monti (coach Copra Elior Piacenza): “We started off very aggressive in the first set: I especially liked our blocking and dig. The second set was similar to the first even if we made a few mistakes and were not as present at the net, credit as well to Vissotto’s serve. In the third set, we used our bench, we substituted Simon who was having a hard time at the net. It was a great game, we were all focused and careful. The return leg will be more difficult, psychologically too”.
Fixtures
2013 Challenge Cup – Final return leg
Sunday March 24 at 6pm
Copra Elior Piacenza (ITA) – Ural Ufa (RUS)
(Barnstorf-Grieder)
PAST WINNERS
2007/08 Cimone Modena
2008/09 Arkas Izmir (TUR)
2009/10 RPA-LuigiBacchi.it Perugia
2010/11 Lube Banca Marche Macerata
2011/12 Tytan Azs Czestochowa (POL)
