Eczacibasi resists to German storm to finish second in Pool A
SCHWERINER SC started very well setting the pace for most of the opening set (7:8, 16:18, and 17:21) but Eczacibasi clawed back to draw level at 24 all with the attacks of Neslihan Darnel and Maja Poljak.
A series of great rallies marked the end of the set that was called over by the guests from Germany by the score of 29-31.
Eczacibasi head coach Lorenzo Micelli changed some players for the second set with Nesve Büyükbayram, Esra Gümüs and Elif Öner joining the game but SCHWERINER SC did not slow down and the Italian-born mentor had to ask for the first time-out at 1:4.
Eczacibasi got back on track (16:13, 20:18) and finished it off at 25-21.
The hosts extended their good momentum also to the start of set 3 (5:2, 8:7) and maintained a safe margin all the way through up to the final 25-21.
SCHWERINER SC did not want to surrender yet and played with glowing hearts in set 4 going up by the second technical time-out and stretching their good rhythm up to the end (22-25).
There Eczacibasi stormed out to a provisional 3:0 before SCHWERINER SC answered back (3:2); as teams changed sides Eczacibasi was up by 2 (8:6) before Denise Hanke tied the count at 8 all.
Darnel helped her side (11:9) but the guests fought back (11 all) until Eczacibasi scored the last few points to go for the final 15-12.
Neslihan Darnel amassed an amazing haul of 31 points with Poljak adding 21 and Mirka Francia scoring 17 times.
As for SCHWERINER SC, Julia Retzlaff scored 22 points and Mira Topic chalked 19.
“This victory is very important” says Micelli.
“We did not play our best but still we won. I would like to congratulate our opponents on their fantastic performance. I trust my players and I am sure we will score some more great wins this season”.
