12 aces seal the deal for Fenerbahçe in 2024 #CLVolleyW opener, Orvosova leads Rzeszow to a win
An outstanding performance on the serving line with as many as 12 aces, was the key to the first victory at the 2024 CEV Champions League Volley Women. The success was delivered by the 2023 semi-finallists, Fenerbahçe Opet Istanbul who are off to a great start in their campaign in this year’s edition of the competition as the players around head coach Stefano Lavarini seized a straight sets win in the opener in Pool C, outclassing their opponents from Slovenia - Calcit Kamnik.
In another exciting match of Tuesday evening, the Polish PGE Rysice Rzeszow prevailed in five sets over the German Allianz MTV Stuttgart. Opposite Gabriela Orvosova shone with 29pts. to her name, helping her team clinch the first win in Pool D.
Fenerbahce Opet ISTANBUL 3-0 Calcit KAMNIK
Counting on a solid performance in front of the home crowds, Fenerbahçe, who in 2023/2024 reached the semi-finals of Europe’s top club competition, controlled the game throughout the three sets played. Despite the efforts by their young opponents from Calcit to go head-to-head, the Turkish players were more successful in finishing the important balls and congratulated themselves with the victory.
The team from Istanbul delivered a better performance in the different Volleyball elements - 41 to 24 winning spikes, six to four kill blocks, and the outstanding 12 to one aces. The only element that the Turks should be working on are the own errors, as they let their rivals record 23 points on this element.
Arina Fedorovtseva was chosen for the MVP of the game, finishing with 21 points and 61% exc. Out of these 21 points, six were recorded after an ace by the outside hitter.
Brazilian international star Ana Cristina de Souza also made it to the court after being absent for several months due to a surgery.
Ana Cristina de Souza“This is my game in the past months - I wasn’t able to play, to jump, to do the thing that I love the most. And I am so grateful to be back now! I want to thank to all who support me. No words can describe my appreciation. As for the match, it was a great start for us. We want to reach the final, we want to be champions.”
Outside hitter of Fenerbahçe OPET Istanbul
PGE Rysice RZESZÓW 3-2 Allianz MTV STUTTGART
In a very balanced fist set, with the two teams chasing each other, the guests of Allianz MTV Stuttgart could emerge victorious mainly to their better performance on attack (13 to nine winning spikes).
The hosts were leading throughout most of the time in the second set, but with Maria Segura on the serve, Allianz MTV Stuttgart could start breathing down their opponents’ necks. However, the players of head coach Stephane Antiga tied back the set score after 26-24. Seven kill blocks turned out to be the key to the success for the Poles in this set, as, on the other side of the court, the German team kept the control of the attack - 15 to 11 winning spikes.
The response was immediate, as the girls of Stuttgart entered the third set more concentrated. PGE Rysice Rzeszow, on the other hand, let as many as eight own errors affect the score, and lost the set.
Nothing was over for the hosts. Showing a more balanced performance, they brought the game into a tiebreaker after one more winning spike (17 to 16) and one more kill block (one to zero) in the fourth set.
In the deciding one, the guests turned out to be the team that suffered from more own errors (five to one), while PGE Rysice Rzeszow seized their chances and claimed the victory.
Gabriela Orvosova was above all, finishing as top scorer with as many as 29 points. She was chosen for MVP as well.
Gabriela Orvosova“Our performance in attack today was very important We weren’t receiving well, but our setter did great with distribution. It is a lesson for us - we need to show our game since the very beginning of each set, not in the middle of it.”
Opposite of PGE Rysice Rzeszow