A. Carraro Imoco CONEGLIANO reach quarterfinal phase after 3-1 victory against Fenerbahçe Opet ISTANBUL on the last day of Pool B competition in Nantes. Italians team remained unbeaten throughout the first and second leg of the 4th Round, while Fenerbahce trailed behind with 12 points, having won four matches. The perfect score secures Conegliano’s position in the next round, while Fenerbahce still have a chance to join them if they remain one of the top three runner-ups among all five pools. The Turkish team will have to wait until next week and results of other matches to find out their faith in the Champions League.

There was no surprise when both teams kept the score very tight throughout the opening set, but it wasn’t until Paola Egonu stepped on the service line, allowing Conegliano to go form 19-19 to 25-19, claiming the first set. Fenerbahce did not stand down, as they hit back in the second set swiftly claiming a five-point gap with Melissa Vargas leading as the top scorer for Turkish side. Conegliano crept back slowly and with a spike from Kimberly Hill and an ace serve from McKenzie Adams they melted Fenerbahce’s advantage to 14-16. The Turkish club kept their cool and remained ahead until Melisa Vargas sealed the deal over second set for her team at 22-25. Third set proved even more dramatic as Fenerbahce dropped a lead as Conegliano went from 11-13 to 16-13, forcing the Turkish side to take a time out. But overturned score gave Italians new confidence as they won the third set 25-21. That spirit accompanied Conegliano into the fourth set, as they achieved their highest point-gap yet against Fenerbahce, at 18-10. No mistakes were made by the top team of the table, as they finished the match at 25-17 in the last set.

• It was the long-awaited gala match of the tournament. The two European leaders in Pool B have been able to fight a spectacular battle here in Nantes. The quality and experience of the players present on the floor of Mangin Beaulieu was simply impressive.

• Conegliano had won clearly in three sets in the first tournament last December, with the advantage of playing at home at Palaverde de Treviso.

• Despite Fenerbahce’s need to take points in the hope to qualify to the quarterfinals as one of three best runner-ups, the extraordinary game, this time on neutral ground, ended in another victory in favour of the Italians.

• Paola Ogechi EGONU, with her 28 points (24 winning spikes, 3 aces and one block) registered in this fight of giants, was naturally elected MVP of this magnificent meeting.

• Conegliano therefore achieves the great performance of obtaining the maximum number of points - 18 - in Pool B, by conceding only one set.

Kimberly Hill, outside spiker of A.Carraro Imoco Conegliano: "I'm really happy for our victory, we worked well as a team to beat a really strong team like Fenerbahce, it was a very tough game, but we knew it. They are a very strong team, we needed a great job on our part, and... we did it. Now let's enjoy this first place and look forward to the next round of the Champions League, now the most important game begins."