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**truebluefan** · 04-09-2008, 08:33 AM

NOVARA claims bronze at Women’s IECL Final Four

NOVARA’s superstar Katarzyna Skowronska popped up on the left to score early in the opening set, but after a timeout MURCIA also went into game quickly. The first technical timeout came with the Spaniards in front 8-5 when NOVARA setter Lindsey Berg touched the net. On the resumption, Jaqueline scored some spectacular winners to fire the hosts 13-8 up, but the Italians answered with spectacular actions inspired by middle blocker Sara Anzanello and outside hitter Natasa Osmokrovic, 15-17. However, the momentum still stayed on MURCIA’s side while Asystel had trouble to overcome the Spanish block-defense system (23-20). But the set was far to be over, as NOVARA bounced back bravely. Skowronska leveled to 25 and then to 26, before Osmokrovic, some rallies later, ended it on the left with a clever long line spike, 29-27.
Grupo 2002 started strongly in the second set for a 5-2 lead while Osmokrovic helped Asystel to come back. Indeed, the Italians were trying to take over the control, showcasing a series of powerful actions on the net. But Fofao, with a service winner, moved on the score in MURCIA’s favor, 16-13 at the second technical timeout. NOVARA head coach Dejan Brdjovic sent in Anna Mello for Anzanello, but the Spaniards managed to keep a three-point lead till the end of the second period (25-22).
But it turned out to be a short revival as the Italians started again to dominate with their impressive team work play, while Spanish spikers just could not find the range in the middle of the third set (13-16). However, Polish idol Malgorzata Glinka turned up the heat to square the game at 16-16. The match now balanced on a knife’s edge as both teams showed their best combinations (23-23, 25-25). Skowronska sent it wide to hand over a first set ball to MURCIA; and Glinka closed it out with a well-timed service winner.
The Polish duel between Skowronska (22 points so far) and Glinka (18) went on in the fourth set, as both of them led their team to the peak. First of all Glinka seemed to finish as the clear winner (14-8), but some moments later Skowronska fired back wildly (13-15). The hosts needed to adjust their game temporarily as Jaqueline and setter Fofao left the court due to injuries. The Italians, playing now with 18-year old setter Marta Bechis, moved forward unstoppably; and Skowronska brought up set point at 26-25 with a clever spike from back row. Osmokrovic finished it in solid manner, hammering a service winner into MURCIA’s court, tie-break.
NOVARA continued their winning streak in the fifth set as Paola Paggi blocked as a champion, 8-5 and then 10-6. Skowronska added a sizzling winner from the right to move it forward to 13-10, and Anzanello bounced the Italians in heaven with a successful block after 2.12 (!) hours of play.

Fofao, captain of Grupo 2002 MURCIA, stated: "Today we had several good moments, but we didn't play very well at the end of each set and that finally counts for securing the victory into your favor or not".

Croatian Natasa Osmokrovic for Asystel added: "We felt pretty tired after yesterday's semifinal and so the match was packed with unforced errors from both sides. I am happy, especially for the team, that we finally got that third place even though we also made too many mistakes all the match long".

Paulo Barros, MURCIA's head coach, declared: "In this final four I feel like we suffered because we are not used to play many matches at such a high level. Moreover, during the fourth set, my girls lost confidence because even Fofao got injured, they lost their concentration and made too many errors. Finally, I think we lost because we didn't perform very well at the end of each set even if we were leading with reassuring margins".

Dejan Brdjovic for Asystel closed the conference by saying: "As usual, classification matches last for 5 sets and the luckier team secures the win. Today it was our turn and I am happy that we achieved that result along with our second setter, Marta Bechis, who has been training along with us for no longer than two months".

**truebluefan** · 04-09-2008, 08:34 AM

A look back to the 2007 NESTEA European Championships Final in Valencia: the German duo consisting of Sara Goller and Laura Ludwig is standing on the podium celebrating their accomplishment, a silver medal, after they lost the final match to Greece’s Vassiliki Karadassiou and Vassiliki Arvanity.

And now looking ahead: last year’s silver medalists Goller/Ludwig are now supposed to face their compatriots Helke Claasen/Antje Röder (5th ranked at last year’s European Championships) and Geeske Banck/Anja Günther for entering the main draw of the Spanish Masters, which serves as the first leg of the 2008 NESTEA European Championship Tour.

Previous results do not count anymore, this is a completely new season and a tough battle is going to start for both ranking points and prize money.

The Goller/Ludwig case demonstrates that it is really hard nowadays to reach the top of the European Beach Volleyball scene and to stay there. Final registration lists have been released and Europe's complete crème de la crème has signed up for the kick-off event of this season to be staged on the Spanish holiday island of Grand Canary.

Sixteen men's and women's teams each will enter the main draw of the Spanish
Masters, which features a 100,000 € prize money. Twelve men's and women's teams already secured their passes according to the European rankings. The final four teams will be determined by the outcome of the qualification tournament.

The schedule sounds as follows:

Wednesday, 16 April:

Country Quota Play-Off Men/Women

Thursday, 17 April:

Qualification tournament Men/Women (Start: 8 a.m.)

Friday, 18 April:

Main Draw Men/Women (Start: 9 a.m.)

Saturday, 19 April:

Main Draw Men/Women (Start: 9 a.m.)
Semi-Finals Women (Start: 3 p.m.)
Semi-Finals Men (Start: 5 p.m.)
Sunday, 20 April:

Medal Matches Women (Start: 11 a.m.)
Medal Matches Men (Start: 1 p.m.)
The Spanish Masters is the kick-off event of the 2008 NESTEA Tour featuring a total of seven tournaments. The event on the Playa del Ingles will be followed by the Austrian Masters in St. Pölten (Austria) from 9-12 May, the Swiss Masters in Lucerne (Switzerland) from 22-25 May, the Dutch Masters in The Hague (Netherlands) from 29 May-1 June leading up to the NESTEA European Championship Final in Hamburg (Germany) from 10-13 July. The early date of this year’s European Championship final is due to the
fact that simultaneously the Olympic Qualification is also on the way and teams participating to the European Championship can collect decisive points for securing their qualification to the Beijing Summer Olympics.

After the Games, there are two more tournaments for the NESTEA European Championship Tour, and namely the English Masters in Blackpool (England) from 11-14 September and the grand finale at the Russian Masters in Sochi (Russia) from 18-21 September. These final two tournaments will decide which of the 8 best men's and women's teams will take home two smart fortwo in addition to the prize money. Both venues are new additions to the tour calendar.

**truebluefan** · 04-09-2008, 08:45 AM

Within a loud arena, featuring even a small orchestra playing traditional Russian folk music, the final match of this year’s Champions’ League gets off with a lot of expectations from both sides. The powerful and physically amazing team from ODINTSOVO will try to keep under control the fast volleyball proposed by PERUGIA, which aims at doubling up the victory gained two years ago in that elite competition. A balanced start is followed by a series of successful attacks for PERUGIA, which succeeds in finding a way through the tallest block of this tournament (8:5) also thanks to a couple of unforced errors by Shashkova and Fateeva.

After the first technical timeout operations move on with an astonishing attack from the second row for German born Hanka Pachale and Del Core continues in that same way as the Russians struggle a bit in their warming up and apparently are not as effective as usual (11:8). Even superstar Shashkova is blocked and Gioli spreads the gap with her well known fast. The reception of the Russians is not that great, nor is Safronova with her second row attacks and PERUGIA speeds up to a 16:10 lead. Too many unforced errors for the girls led by Mr. Vadim Pankov, who – even though most of them are very experienced even at international level – are entering their first final four ever with the only exception of Shashkova. Pachale closes an exciting rally in favor of PERUGIA and Gioli rules in spite of an intimidating Russian block (20:13). Two more spikes for captain Francia and PERUGIA cruises to the final of the set, while Russian setter Zhukova is suffering the effects of a disappointing reception. A terrific block from Gioli and it is 1-0 for the Italians, who are much more effective and are also enjoying a continuous series of unusual unforced errors for ODINTSOVO.

The second set starts with an exhibition of devastating attacks for both captains, namely Francia and Shashkova. Tie-to-tie as Gioli provides the audience with a couple of fast attacks and a delighting block; the Russians are getting into the match, but still their supporters are longing for a much more consistent play. Even though errors are equally distributed, it seems that the reception of ODINTSOVO is today weaker than ever, while the Italians are getting really excited and self-confident (10:7). However, the Russians recover until tying the score (14:14), but they are too inconsistent even with their serves. While even Shashkova sometimes follows up the negative trends of her teammates, PERUGIA replies with great blocks and cruises to a reassuring margin (22:18). Mr. Pankov appeals to the substitutes for reversing the standings, but PERUGIA keeps on a great reception and a stellar Gioli secures the 2:0. Quite an unexpected result, especially as ODINTSOVO entered the final match with very good forecasts after a displaying of impressive strength in yesterday’s semifinal against MURCIA.

The Russians are not going to give it up that easily and they “depress” the accelerator at the very beginning of the third set (4:2). Supported by their loud fans – who are trying to overload the music provided by the Russian orchestra with their drums and choirs – the Italians tie the score. ODINTSOVO bounces back as Safronova and Fateeva finally get into the match and the Russians lead 16:13 as the second technical timeout is called. The Italians seem to be a bit fatigued as they have been pushing quite a lot from the moment the match got off and start committing their first unforced errors. Coach Sbano feels it is time to reorganize ideas and plans in order to avoid a further extension of the game to a risky fourth set and possibly an even more dangerous tie-break. Shashkova leads the operations and Merkulova secures the set for ODINTSOVO, whose reception improved a lot especially in comparison to the previous periods.
After the rest, PERUGIA starts confidently (9:2) and Gioli – MVP of this tournament – rules again even in front of such tall opponents. Mr. Pankov returns to recall a few substitutes in order to keep ODINTSOVO’s hopes alive but this is only a buffer solution as Pachale and Gioli keep on rolling (16:10). In spite of the loud support of a bunch of supporters who arrived from their hometown situated in the surroundings of Moscow, the Russians do not manage to seize the day, PERUGIA secures a second Indesit Champions’ League trophy after a delighting performance and closing with an ace.

Emanuele Sbano, coach of Colussi PERUGIA, stated: "It is amazing, it was quite a diifficult week with the Italian Cup and also because of the long match we had yesterday. We were in a very tough group during the main round with MURCIA and ISTANBUL and had intense matches against TENERIFE and JESI during the playoff rounds. That anyway helped us a lot in order to get used to such a high level of volleyball".

Mirka Francia, the winners' captain, added: "I am absolutely happy for that win and second Indesit Champions' League title. We were a bit tired after yesterday's semifinal but still very focused on our goal. The Russians didn't play as well as in yesterday's duel against MURCIA. We perhaps benefited of the high level available in the Italian National League, where we got used to play very fast. It is just great that we accomplished that objective".

Simona Gioli, MVP of this tournament, finally declared: "Today we reached a very important target thanks to a great team spirit. We worked really hard for granting that and therefore we are now even more satisfied having reached our purpose. We definitely are an amazing squad".

Best players awards

MVP: Simona Gioli (Colussi PERUGIA)
Best scorer: Katarzyna Skowronska-Dolata (Asystel NOVARA)
Best setter: Helia Souza (Grupo 2002 MURCIA)
Best spiker: Mirka Francia (Colussi PERUGIA)
Best libero: Paola Cardullo (Asystel NOVARA)
Best server: Zhanna Pronicheva (Zarechie ODINTSOVO)
Best receiver: Natasa Osmokrovic (Asystel NOVARA)
Best blocker: Marisa Fernandez (Grupo 2002 MURCIA)

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