Swiss Volero suffers home loss in quarter-finals – 2012 CEV Champions League
The Volero-based Swiss women’s club volleyball team hosted the first match of quarter-finals of the 2012 CEV Champions League on Wednesday, February 1, where they came into competition with Azerbaijan’s Azerrail Baku.
The visiting team proved to be too strong for hosts and defeated Volero by posting 3-1 (25-19, 22-25, 26-24, 25-16) on board. A crowd of over 1,200, which was mainly composed of the local audience, witnessed the match. The home squad dropped the first set
but made a good comeback in the second set and levelled the score.
However, the guest team captured the next two sets in row and earned winning status in the match.
Volero Zurich’s Petrovic Aleksandra and Tomkom Nootsara of Azerrail Baku did an amazing job for their respective teams. Both tied at the 22 points for the top scorer’s position. Elsewhere, five of the Baku players went into double digit scores and led their
team to victory. RAHIMOVA Polina of Baku emerged as the best spiker in the match. She added 20 winning spikes.
The opening set of the match was a total disaster for the hosts as they trailed behind throughout the first stanza. On the contrary, the Baku ladies started out on strong footing and dominated the scene from start to end. Thai setter of Azerrail Baku, Nootsara
Tomkom, devastated the opponents with her skilful game. She not only assisted other players to poke the ball over net but also scored points via tricky bump passes.
The home team tried different ways to fight the challenge but failed to cope with the power of visiting team. The ladies around Head coach Svetlana Ilic could not fulfil the expectations of home audience and suffered the loss of opening frame.
Volero ‘force’ hit back aggressively in the following set and managed to pick up an early lead. The good combination of attack and defence tactics enabled them to maintain lead until 12-11.
Nevertheless, the resilient rival Baku continued to catch up. Swiss Captain Aleksandra Petrovic worked out amazing performance and helped the team to win second set, which brought the game to an even point.
It seemed as if Volero was back in business with second-set win but it was not the case. The home team could not carry the thrust of victory into next set and lost third set. After pulling up success in third set, Baku captured fourth set and won the match.
The Head Coach of Volero, Svetlana Ilic, stated, “It was clear that Baku was going to use their strongest weapons. They did a great job in block and defence, particularly in the most critical phases. This is what my girls were not able to do. I am confident
to find a way to win the return match. I am happy also with the performance of Karla Klaric; she is only 17 but she already showed her great potential tonight.”
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