Hypo Tirol-Friedrichshafen
The expectations for this game were very high and did not get disappointed in today’s first round clash of the 2013 CEV Volleyball Champions League. After a little shaky start by both teams with some unnecessary errors, the match developed itself into a great Volleyball show with up and downs, spectacular defense actions and great points.
The Tyroleans were able to take over control of the match by stopping the attacks of the Germans beginning with effective serving and good blocks. With 25-19 and 25-16 the team around team captain Daniel Gavan took a 2:0 lead and the atmosphere in the hall was boiling.
Stelian Moculescu reacted and brought in Thomas Zass for Ventceslav Simeonov and Nikola Jovovic for Juraj Zatko. The game changed, VfB FRIEDRICHSHAFEN received better and found the way back into the game. After a 20-25 and 23-25 in set 3 and 4 the match was tied and the deciding fifth set was going to determine the winner. VfB FRIEDRICHSHAFEN had the better start there but the sides were changed at 8:7 for Hypo Tirol. From that moment on, the Tyroleans only scored one more point and lost the match after a 9-15 final score. That was a great Volleyball night with a disappointing after taste for the home crowd.
Team Manager Hannes Kronthaler said: “The first two sets were what we hoped for. After that we got a little less precise in our setting and our opponents started to play better. Overall we have to say that we kind of gave the game away and of course everybody is disappointed now. We could not manage to play the match till the end”.
VfB opposite Thomas Zass: “Our start was bad. Hypo Tirol served really strong and we were under pressure. When I joined the game in the third set I wanted to show my best performance in my home town and I am really happy that I could play like that in my first Champions League game”. Zass eventually top scored for his side with 21 points while Ronald Jimenez registered 24 for Hypo Tirol.
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