Eczacibasi – Azerrail
Eczacibasi set the pace of the game by the first technical time-out of the opening set (8:6) but the guests from Azerbaijan got to the front (15:20) forcing local head coach Lorenzo Micelli to ask for a time-out. Neslihan Darnel and Senna Usic Jogunica helped Eczacibasi come back (21 all) and flip the score around (23:21) to finish it off at 25-22.
Azerrail got to the front in the early phases of the second set (1:4) and controlled the operations with the help provided by Megan Hodge and Tina Lipicer-Samec (4:8 and 5:12). Micelli changed Senna Usic Jogunica for Esra Gümüs but even the addition of the duo composed by Busra Cansu and Aleksandra Petrovic could not change the course of the game (12:16). However, Eczacibasi eventually fought back powered by Darnel and some blocks (18:20) before Lioubov Shashkova did restore the balance at 22 all. She added two more points to make it 24:22 and she also finished the set at 25-23 for the provisional 2:0.
Eczacibasi literally dominated the scene in the third set (9:1, 12:2) and could easily finish it off in straight sets.
“We knew that Azerrail is a good team and we had prepared very carefully for this match. We came back twice in the first two sets where our opponents were leading the score and a series of serves by Neslihan started the third set very well for us and we could keep it up until the end. It is now time to prepare for our next match where we play DRESDNER SC of Germany” said head coach Lorenzo Micelli.
“This was a very important match for us and I believe that every player did what they were supposed to do. Now we shall prolong that winning streak also in the next rounds” added captain Esra Gümüs.
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