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Developres SkyRes RZESZÓW end the Champions League journey with their first victory in Pool A. After a challenging 4th Round, where Rzeszów were unable to secure a win and gained only two points after two tie-break matches played against SSC Palmberg Schwerin and Unet e-work BUSTO ARSIZIO, the Polish team faced Savino Del Bene SCANDICCI on the last day of the competition. Rzeszów beat Scandicci, who have qualified to the quarterfinal earlier this week, in four sets and ended the round with five points. Scandicci qualified to the quarterfinal earlier this week, finishing the pool with 12 points.

Perhaps it was the lack of pressure over the result of this match that allowed both teams to play more freely, as they opened the match with the longest set of the 4th Round. The record that belonged to Stuttgart and Istanbul, when they played their opening set on Tuesday until 32-30, was broken by Rzeszów and Scandicci, who fought until the Italian side one 33-35. This is only the second time in this Round for any team to go beyond 30-point mark. And yet it seemed unlikely from the first actions of the set as Rzeszów developed a four-point gap, which they maintained throughout the set and as far as 21-17. Scandicci found their way back, levelling at 22-22 and the real fight began as the Italian side defended eight set-points attempted by Rzeszów. It took three set points of their own for Scandicci to win the set 33-35.
Both clubs continued to keep the score tight during the second set, until Rzeszów achieved a 20-16 advantage yet again. Led by Kiera Van Ryk, Rzeszów were keen to not repeat their mistakes from the previous set and the team remained ahead until they won the set 25-22, with Van Ryk becoming the top scorer thus far with 17 points. Coach Barbolini brought a new line up in the third set onwards, giving Elena Pietrini, Agnese Cecconello, Kimberly Drewniok, Lucisa Bossetti and Letizia Camera a chance to play. Rzeszów continued the domination on court, going ahead as early as 12-8 and maintaining the gap throughout the set until they won 25-22. But it was not possible for the Polish club to keep tabs on point advantage forever, even when they’ve reached 19-13 in the fourth set, slowly marching towards a victory in the match. Scandicci proved, just like they did in the first set, that they are capable of patiently chasing their opponent and they were soon on level terms with Rzeszów at 22-22. The Polish team held under the pressure of the tight end of this set and secured a victory with a fourth match-ball, at 28-26.

• Kiera Van Ryk was named MVP of the match after scoring 36 points, including 31 winning spikes, 4 blocks and 1 ace

• The next best scorer gained 20 fewer points! Zuzanna Efimienko-Mlotkowska scored 15, including 6 blocks - that made her the best blocker in the match

• On the other side of the next Mina Popovic was the best server with 3 aces scored for Scandicci

More to follow...