After setting the pace Knack ROESELARE loses at tie-break to ACH Volley
The score stayed extremely tight in the opening set with Sam Deroo for Knack and Milan Rasic for the guests impressing the audience with their excellent blocks. US-American Ryan Ammmerman replaced Stijn D’Hulst as setter and this was a good move with ROESELARE eventually pocketing the first set once again with youngster Deroo standing out for his side (25-23).
Knack caught a very poor start in set 2 committing many errors there and going rapidly 3:8 down. Hendrik Tuerlinckx did not attack with the necessary consistency while Deroo was also no longer up to the rhythm he had displayed in the opening set. ACH Volley quickly widened the gap (6:16) and even though home coach Dominique Baeyens started making changes, this did not stop the run of the guests who sealed it with an impressive 12-25.
With Deroo playing as opposite in set 3, Knack got back on track (8:4); the Belgians served well (12:6, 14:8) and even though ACH Volley attempted a comeback, still Ammerman and Wouter Verhelst could finish it off for the home side with a speedy 25-16.
ACH Volley displayed some great Volleyball in set 4 (5:11, 8:16) and it looked like the guests were going to call for the tie-break quite rapidly. However, ROESELARE fought back with great intensity (20:22) and Tuerlinckx scored a block for the 23 all. This magnificent return was not finalized as ultimately ACH Volley silvered its fourth set ball (26-28) to go for the deciding fifth set.
Alen Sket there made the difference for the side from Slovenia (5:8) while Deroo and Tuerlinckx could not close the gap for Knack. The Belgians made a way too many mistakes and ACH Volley deservedly sealed it at 7-15 for the final 2:3.
“We could have won this match but we made too many mistakes, we completely failed in the second set as well as in the opening of the tie-break” says home coach Dominique Baeyens. “However I still think we have a chance to win the return match in Slovenia and so our adventure in the CEV Cup is not yet over”.
Alen Sket top scored for ACH Volley with 27 points while Sam Deroo contributed 23 for Knack.
