The Palaverde crowd witnessed something truly special last night, a match that had everything: drama, tension, unbelievable rallies, and a comeback that felt almost impossible. Prosecco Doc A. Carraro Imoco Conegliano had to dig deeper than ever to defeat Zeren Ankara Spor Kulubu 3–2 in their opening CEV Champions League Pool D match.
For more than two and a half hours, the two teams traded blows in what felt like a final rather than a group-stage opener. Ankara, newcomers to the competition, stunned everyone with their fearlessness. Led by former Conegliano setter Ofelia Malinov and a standout night from Aleksandra Uzelac (24 points), they pushed the European queens right to the edge.
The moment that defined the match? The tie-break. Zeren jumped ahead 14–11, holding not one, not two, but five match points. The Turkish side was literally one step away from celebrating a historic win. But Conegliano refused to give up. Point after point, they clawed their way back, defending, attacking, and playing with the heart of a team that knows what it means to be champions. In the end, they closed the set 20–18, sealing their 23rd consecutive European victory.
Isabelle Haak was unstoppable once again, finishing with 29 points and delivering the big swings that kept Conegliano alive. MVP Gabi Guimaraes added 21 points and a ton of gritty, unseen work that kept the team balanced. Daalderop (17) and Fahr (12) made important contributions, while Monica De Gennaro held the defense together with her trademark calmness.
Zeren, though, earned every ounce of respect. Aleksandra Uzelac (24), Maja Aleksic (19 points) and Anna Lazareva (18) were constant threats, and the entire team showed a level of maturity that surprised many.
Final Score:
Conegliano – Ankara 3–2 (23–25, 26–24, 23–25, 25–22, 20–18)
