Remember Walewska from Brazil? She’s playing in the Russian League together with Germany’s very own pretty superstar MAGGIE KOZUCH!
Zarechie ODINTSOVO (RUS) vs. Crvena Zvezda BEOGRAD (SRB) 3:1 (26-24, 25-22, 16-25, 25-12)
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Match Report From CEV:
In the second round of play for Pool A Russia’s Zarechie ODINTSOVO claimed its second straight victory, this time by edging out the young Serbians of Crvena Zvezda BEOGRAD. The start of the match was extremely tight, but via Anna Makarova and Margareta Kozuch the hosts got the lead at 11:5. The Russians did really rule with the only exception being three rallies in a row scored by Crvena Zvezda. Anna Makarova stamped a block to finish the opening set at 26-24 after a close ending. The guests enjoyed the better start in set nr 2 (7:8) but again Makarova set the rhythm for Zarechie scoring a few aces and widening the gap (20:13). It looked like the fate of the second set was already determined. However, the Serbian players profited of some unforced errors affecting the home team to equalize the score and claim the lead. Only some brilliant actions in attack of Margareta Kozuch brought the set to ODINTSOVO 25-22. The opening of the third set was under full control of the guests. They were leading 2:8 by the first technical time-out. However, their errors and some perfect actions by Margareta Kozuch let Zarechie reduce the gap – 9:11. And yet it wasn’t enough for the team from the Moscow Region. A few mistakes from the serving line and in reception helped the guests win the third set with a comfortable score (16-25). Only in the fourth set Zarechie was able to show its superiority. Setting the pace 8:4 by the first time-out and 16:10 by the second break, the team from Odintsovo left Crvena Zvezda far behind. Elena Emelianova acted very successfully in block and also with her first tempo attacks. Brazilian star Walewska scored the final point for a mighty 25-12.
Russian mentor Vadim Pankov said: “I think the Serbian team will play much better at home. Their young players aren’t experienced enough, the actions of the setter showed it brightly. But this team is very competitive and I am sure that our visit to Serbia won’t be an easy walk. Crvena Zvezda started playing better from the serving line in the third set and we lost our game immediately”. His Serbian counterpart, Ratko Pavlicevic, added: “I had said before the match that Zarechie ODINTSOVO is a very good team. And they confirmed it by the game they played tonight. We did our best but it was not enough to beat Zarechie. At this moment they are beyond our level. But we are going to show an even more solid Volleyball in the near future”.
Side Dish: To READ the other match reports from today’s matches, click HERE.
(images from CEV.LU)