Calcit Volley KAMNIK and Vasas Óbuda BUDAPEST qualify in great fashion to the 2nd Round of the #CLVolleyW
Recap
A week ago, the Slovenian national champions of Calcit KAMNIK experienced a cold shower in Zagreb, as they won only 40 points in three sets. In each element of the game, Mladost ZAGREB was one class better than Calcit. In this duel of old acquaintances, Calcit needed a 3-0 or 3-1 win and then also a Golden Set to advance to the next round. Against every doubtful spectator, Calcit made a come-back with a winning strike.
In the opening set, the players of Calcit showed a completely different face than in Zagreb. Gregor Rozman started the match with Ana Marija Vovk, who, along with Maša Pucelj, was most responsible for Kamnik’s lead at 8-2. Unfortunately, just one rally before the home setter Mila Djordjević injured her ankle and was forced to leave the court.
Mladost took advantage of the home team’s loss and came only a point behind (8-7). However, Calcit quickly overcame the critical moments scoring three points in a row. Still, at 16-16 the teams levelled the score. After Katarina Pavičić’s spike, it was 17-21 for Mladost and Calcit were obviously in trouble. No white flags on the home bench though, Sara Hutinski’s block got the first ball to lock the first set. With her fourth block that far, Hutinski succeeded in the next rally.
The second set started well for Calcit as well. They took a 4-1 lead, but with Klara Perić scoring the visiting team came within one point (6-5). Still, this didn’t stop the team of Calcit who continued to play strong in the block, saved some difficult balls and after a successful spike by Canadian middle blocker Lucille Charuk, it was 16-10 in their favour.
The large advantage did not put them to sleep, they continued to shine in the block, there was no lost ball in the field for them, and after a new Charuk point, it was 23-16 for Calcit Volley. Hutinski finished the set with another block.
In the third set, the two teams were tied until the eighth point before with Andjelka Radišković's ace, the home side took a three-point advantage for the first time (11-8), so Miodrag Stojaković took a time-out. At the right moment, because with it he stopped Calcit Kamnik, and with Karla Antunović's ace, the two teams were together again.
This time, home mentor Gregor Rozman decided to take a break. After the stop, Radišković's point took them further to 16-14. Even more so Mladost spiked off the court, and the scoreboard read 18-15 for Calcit Volley. But not for long, because after another half-minute break, Mladost found their way back into the game, scoring two consecutive points. The visitors made it to -1 (22-21), but Calcit Kamnik still managed to get three final balls, which separated them from a Golden Set. Vovk took advantage of the second one.
There, the home heroes took a 7-4 lead with the attack of Radišković. Mladost got close to a point behind, but at the change of sides, Calcit Volley were leading 8-6. Not for long, because after two mistakes, they allowed the guests to equalize at the eighth point. In another tense playoff, Maša Pucelj was the most responsible for Kamnik's 12-9 lead with two consecutive points, and Ana Marija Vovk with a good reaction at the net for the four match balls.
Already after the first one, Charuk was successful in the block, and with it, Calcit Volley advanced to the second round of this year's Champions League.
Gregor Rozman"Just as Mladost was convincing in the first match, we dominated today. All the players deserve praise, it was a great victory for the whole team. Our goal still remains to qualify for the Champions League 4th Round, but we are aware that it will be even more difficult against Crvena Zvezda."
Head coach of Calcit KAMNIK
Miodrag Stojaković"The girls from Kamnik knew what they had to do, they were more focused, they did not allow any surprises, while we played below our abilities. The question is how the match would have played out if we had won the first set. But it is our fault, in the sequel Calcit got extra energy, while we didn't."
Head coach of Mladost ZAGREB
Earlier in the evening, the team from Hungary Vasas Óbuda BUDAPEST defeated the Belgian national champions of VDK GENT Dames, also securing a spot in the 2nd Round of the #CLVolleyW.
After winning in straight sets in Belgium last week, Vasas Óbuda were hoping to repeat the same feat in front of their home crowd. They started extremely confidently, winning the first set by a margin of as many as fifteen points, in what was a much easier than expected run. The visiting team played much better in the second set, but Vasas Óbuda, led by their outside hitters Yuliya Boyko and Kata Török, still managed to overcome their opposition, and by winning the second set (25-22), they sealed the qualification to the second round as well. The home team made many changes for the third set, but the outcome was no different this time either, as Vasas Óbuda won the game comfortably (25-18) and can now prepare to play Spain’s Tenerife LA LAGUNA in the 2nd Round.
Ioannis Athanasopoulos“GENT showed their real face in the second set, not in the first. In the first we served unbelievably good, just like we had done in Belgium. In the second, our passing was not so good, but we managed to deal with it. I am very proud of my team’s performance, especially for the girls who came in for the third set.”
Head Coach of Vasas Obuda BUDAPEST
Stijn Morand“We have a young team and a very bad draw. Vasas is the first seed in these early rounds, and they showed why. They played very well, and their experience proved decisive. Congratulations and good luck to them.”
Head coach of VDK GENT Dames