Lausanne, Switzerland, March 31, 2019 - With the FIVB season now less than two months out, the club season is peaking with the first titles being settled - and in spectacular fashion by the representatives of Italy, who picked up three of the four European trophies up for grabs this past week.
Yamamay e-work Busto Arsizio already had an advantage with a straight-set win on the road in the first leg, but promptly beat again CSM Volei Alba Blaj 3-1 (25-27, 25-19, 25-23, 25-20) at home, with Belgium's Britt Herbots leading the scoring on 22 points while Alessia Gennari and the Netherlands' Floortje Meijners added another 12 each for the title of Europe's second-tier women's CEV Cup.
Meanwhile, Saugella Monza picked up the third-tier European Challenge Cup with a 3-1 (25-20, 17-25, 25-22, 25-15) win at home over Aydin BBSK, inspired by Bosnia & Herzegovina's Edina Begic who scored 15 points and the Netherlands' Anne Buijs who added another 13. The Italian club had also won the first leg in straight sets.
• In other women's action over the past week, USA's Destinee Hooker scored an incredible 34 points to lead Osasco / Audax to the semifinals of the Brazilian Superleague playoffs with a 3-1 (25-22, 25-23, 23-25, 25-23) away win over Hinode Barueri in the deciding match of the best-of-three quarterfinals.
• Sesi Volei Bauru was the other team to advance to the semifinals in Brazil this past week, on the back of 27 points from Tiffany Abreu and 23 from Italy's Valentina Diouf in their 3-1 (24-26, 27-25, 25-23, 25-19) win on the road over Sesc Rio de Janeiro.
• Osasco and Bauru join Itambe Minas of Belo Horizonte and Dentil / Praia Clube of Uberlandia who had already qualified to the semifinals after only two matches. The semifinals begin this week.
• USA's Kim Hill led Imoco Volley Conegliano to yet another win in the Italian Superleague, scoring 15 points as her side beat Busto Arsizio 3-0 (25-20, 27-25, 25-19) to triumphantly finish top of the table in the Regular Season for pole position in the playoffs which begin next weekend.
• In the Turkish league, Serbia's Tijana Boskovic powered Eczacibasi VitrA Istanbul to the semifinals with 31 points in their 3-1 (25-15, 21-25, 25-18, 25-23) win over Kameroglu Beylikduzu Voleybol Ihtisas.
• Earlier in the week, Azerbaijan's Polina Rahimova with 32 points led Turk Hava Yollari to a 3-2 (17-25, 25-18, 16-25, 25-20, 15-13) win over Fenerbahce Opet, forcing a deciding third match in the best-of-three series. With 16 points from Meryem Boz Galatasaray HDI Sigorta Istanbul beat Besiktas Istanbul 3-0 (26-24, 25-20, 25-18), while Lonneke Sloetjes of the Netherlands and Ebrar Karakurt each bagged 13 points in VakifBank Istanbul's win over Nilufer Belediyespor 3-0 (25-21, 25-17, 25-12), as both wrapped up their quarterfinal series 2-0.
• In men's midweek action, having won the first leg at home in straight sets, Trentino Itas were looking down the barrel of a 'golden set', but pulled off a spectacular comeback from two sets down to beat Galatasaray in Istanbul 3-2 (22-25, 21-25, 25-16, 15-5) and claim the title in the second-tier European men's CEV Cup. Serbia's Uros Kovacevic was the man of the match, scoring 24 points for Trentino, while Gabriele Nelli and USA's Aaron Russell contributed another 14 each and Davide Candellaro added 13 more.
• Belgorie Belgorod crashed the Italian party in the European Cups, beating Vero Volley Monza 3-0 (27-25, 25-19, 25-19) at home for the title of the third-tier men's Challenge Cup and on the back of the two sets they had picked up in Monza in the first leg. Denis Zemchenok was instrumental in Belogorie's latest win with 17 points, while Canada's John Gordon Perrin added another 12.
• In the Italian Superleague, Regular Season leaders Sir Safety Conad Perugia got off to a head start in the Playoffs quarterfinals with a 3-0 (31-29, 25-16, 25-11) sweep of Monza as Cuba-born Wilfredo Leon scored 15 points and Serbia's Aleksandar Atanasijevic added another 13.
• Argentina's Facundo Conte scored 23 points to lead Funvic Taubate to a 3-1 (25-18, 25-17 23-25, 25-13) win over Volei Renata for a ticket to the semifinals of the Brazilian Superleague Playoffs. It was the only series that went to a third match.
• Earlier in the week in Brazil, Alan Souza (22 points) helped Sesi Sao Paulo to a 3-1 (26-24, 30-28, 22-25, 25-17) win on the road over Volei UM Itapetininga and Isac Santos (15) powered defending champions Sada Cruzeiro to a 3-0 (25-19, 25-21, 25-17) sweep of Copel Telecom Maringa. They all join Sesc Rio de Janeiro after their own win over Fiat / Minas of Belo Horizonte, which had Wallace Souza score 20 points.
Quick links - Volleyball:
FIVB.com - Volleyball
FIVB.com
Latest Videos
Facebook
Twitter
Instagram