Roeselare vs. Maaseik
This match was the debut of Italian-born head coach Vincenzo Di Pinto and his assistant Giovanni Torchio at the helm of Noliko MAASEIK. Noliko was still missing two key players, Jelte Maan and Wilhelm Nilsson, who are currently competing with their respective national teams – Netherlands and Sweden – at the second round World Champs qualifier in Almere.
After a very close start (11:11), Knack Roeselare got the edge in the opening set with an impressive dismay of power by their captain Hendrik Tuerlinckx well supported by Finnish setter Eemi Tervaportti. Noliko opposite Jeff Menzel – who had found his way to Belgium only one day before the Super Cup – joined the game but could not prevent Knack from winning the first set 25-22.
The second set followed the same plot as Knack broke away after a tie at 10 to get a margin of four points by the second technical time-out. Knack was able to keep that cushion up to the end (25-22) to make it 2:0 in sets. Noliko did not surrender and opened with a 5:2 and 8:5 run in the third set. Knack drew level at 17 all but this time Noliko was able to keep cool and finish it off at 25-23. Knack caught a flying start in the fourth set (10:3) and did not look back anymore to cash the final 25-19 and a well-deserved 3:1 victory.
“The team is our strength because we have the same roster as last year and we are used to playing together” said Knack ROESELARE team captain Hendrik Tuerlinckx. “Still I do not think that we are the clear-cut favorite to win this year’s national league because Noliko has showed their potential tonight and Precura ANTWERP also has a good roster this season”.
“Tonight it was easy to see that we did not have a good preparation for the start of the season. Our team is not complete yet and we have to start everything from scratch” concluded Noliko receiver Kristof Hoho.
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