News - Page 119 of 136

VakifBank Istanbul grab a spot in the #CLVolleyW Semi-Finals

by Press 17/03/2022

written by Press

This week all the semifinalists of the CEV Champions League Volley 2022 will be determined after a round of the away quarterfinal games. The first teams to lock horns in the decisive battle of this stage of Europe’s prime club competition were VakifBank ISTANBUL and Developres RZESZÓW. A week earlier, Developres who is a rookie in the competition earned a 3-2 win, so Volleyball fans expected a thrilling battle at Vakifbank Spor Sarayi ISTANBUL. And it definitely was a fierce fight that ended with a 3-1 victory for the reigning club world champions. Although, the first two sets were a clear VakifBank’s domination, the #CLVolleyW newcomers came back in the third set and the fourth part delivered a finest Volleyball show. Isabelle Haak topped the scorers chart with an impressive 28 points and got another MVP title, but this time she decided to give away her award to Gabi, who was the one to stamp their ticket to the semifinals. On the way to the SuperFinal, VakifBank will face their domestic rival Fenerbahce Istanbul.

In front of the home crowd, VakifBank was extremely motivated to start the match on a high note. With powerful spikes from Isabelle Haak (8 points in the opener) they quickly earned a three-point lead (5-2) and although Developres tried hard to keep the pace with the Turkish powerhouse, but struggling in reception (21%) and efficiency attack (32%) they couldn’t do much. The hosts were improving their advantage further up to seven points at 12-5 and then they dominated on the court even stronger, winning the set by ten points.

Haak topped the scorers chart with as many as 28 points, her efforts were recognised with MVP award, however the Swedish star decided to hand her award to Gabi (19 points).

“It was a super tough game, we knew that they are a really good team. They have really good defenders. We had to fight for every point. I think we did a great game at the end. Like we handled it good. We showed courage in the tight moments” , said Isabelle Haak opposite of VakifBank Istanbul.

“First of all I want to congratulate the player, coach and the technical staff of Rzeszow because they play really well. They put us big trouble in Poland and here. Big respect for them. And sure I want to congratulate my players. We were under big stress. As I expressed before “Pressure is a privilege that we deserve”, we are happy that we played under big pressure and we handle it so good”, said Giovanni Guidettihead coach of VakifBank Istanbul

17/03/2022 0 comments

Milenkoski expect placement of Team Montenegro on Euro Volley 2023: Matches against Portugal will be tough

by Press 16/03/2022

written by Press

Head coach of Men’s Volleyball National team Montenegro commented drawing of Qualifiers group for Euro Volley 2023. Recall, the draw awarded to Montenegrin volleyball players for rivals national teams of Portugal, Luxembourg and Iceland.

“As it has already been announced, we get opponents in the Qualifiers for the Euro Volley 2023. When you look at other groups, the impression is that in our group, one of the toughest rivals is Portugal. Namely, Portugal was a participant in the last Euro Volley 2021 and left an extraordinary impression. They finished 4th in the Preliminary phase behind Poland, Serbia and Ukraine, but ahead of Belgium and Greece. Therefore, they achieved 1/8 finals of Euro Volley 2021 and almost made a surprise against the Netherlands (they lost 3:2 in a dramatic match). Luxembourg and Iceland are also in our group. I guess Luxembourg will be better than Iceland and therefore the points against Iceland if they are 4th will not count. So against Luxembourg we have to go for two clean wins and six points and then with Portugal to lead a big fight for first place in the group. I hope that we will have good preparations for the upcoming qualifications, that all players will be in full form and ready to respond to the challenge. Despite the fact that we have a very good opponent, I believe in the quality and capabilities of our volleyball players and I expect successful results and placement on Euro Volley 2023”, said Milenkoski.

16/03/2022 0 comments

Montenegro

Masonicic: Our goal is to go one step further

by Press 16/03/2022

written by Press

Women’s Volleyball team Montenegro will try to achieve their first appearance at the Euro Volley this year. In the qualifiers that will be played in August and September, their opponents will be National teams of Czech Republic, Finland and Iceland.

“We got a group similar in quality as in the previous Qualifiers. Czech Republic is absolute favorite of our group. Finland was also with us in group in last Qualifiers and they won agains us two times, but we showed in both matches that we have quality to play against them. Iceland National team is honestly the weakest in our group and victories against them should not be questioned”, said Nikola Masonicic head coach of women’s National team Montenegro.

Masonicic has only one wish…

“For us, the most important thing is that all players are healthy, because we had a lot of problems with injuries in the previous Qualifiers. With a good preparation plan, I hope that we will be able to go one step further than the previous Qualifiers and I am glad that most of the players in second part of club season played good and standard in their clubs “, concludes Masonicic

The placement at Euro Volley 2023 will be won by the first-placed and second-placed teams from all six qualifying groups.

16/03/2022 0 comments

Greece Main

Panathinaikos regain Women’s National Cup title in Greece after 12 years

by Press 14/03/2022

written by Press

Heraklion, Greece, 12 March 2022 – It’s been a long time coming, but historic Panathinaikos Athens are back in the business of collecting trophies, claiming the Women’s Greek Cup for the sixth time in the history of the competition but for the first time in twelve years, after coming back from a set down to defeat Thira 3-1 (21-25, 25-22, 25-19, 25-15).

It was Penny Roga who played a pivotal role in Panathinaikos’ triumph as the 34-year-old became the first ever libero in the history of the competition to collect the prestigious MVP award.

“It still hasn’t sunk in,” said Roga after picking up her individual award. “I’ve been through tough years with Panathinaikos and today’s award is recognition. Libero’s are not usually in the limelight and despite doing all the ‘dirty work’, its the spikers and scorers who get all the spotlights. I’m so happy that my first Cup title comes alongside the MVP award.”

But Panathinaikos’ international trio of Canada’s Jennifer Cross, Azerbaijan’s Margarita Stepanenko and the Netherlands’ Maret Grothues each scored 14 points as Greece’s Eva Chantava emerged her side’s best scorer on 16 points.

Cross was difficult to get past in the middle, contributing six blocks and produced a powerful attacking efficiency of 54% (7/13) – second only to Panathinaikos’ other middle blocker Irini Hatziefstratiadou who attacked for 58% (7/12).

“I cannot even describe the emotion,” said 27-year-old Hatziefstratiadou after the match. “Since the very start of the season we had set winning the Cup as one of our goals. Panathinaikos is here to stay and I would like to thank our fans who follow us wherever we may travel.”

Thira outside hitter Symone Abbott of USA was top scorer of the final on 20 points but that was hardly enough for the Santorini club to claim their first ever title, after losing in the final for the third time running.

Earlier in the competition, Panathinaikos had knocked out Ilysiakos Athens 3-0 (25-9, 25-20, 25-21) in the semifinal of the Final Four, held here in the capital of Crete over the weekend and themed on a call to end the war in Ukraine, as volunteers and players alike sported t-shirts in support of the peace effort.

Thira had previously spectacularly come back from 19-24 down in the first set to defeat Thetis of the Voula suburb of Athens 3-1 (28-26, 25-19, 27-25, 25-20) in the other semifinal.

The Men’s Cup Final Four, featuring defending Cup holders PAOK Thessaloniki, Foinikas Syros, Olympiacos Piraeus and Pegasus of the Thessaloniki suburb of Policnhe will be held over the 2-3 April weekend.

14/03/2022 0 comments