Italy’s champion Imoco Volley Conegliano created an incredible turnover in the first semi-final in the strongest European club tournament – the Women’s Volleyball Champions League. Daniele Santarelli-led team trailed 0-2 but eventually won by 3-2 (26:28, 20:25, 25:14, 25:22, 18:16) at home to the club world champions and last year’s finalists in tournament – the Turkish giant Eczacibasi Dynavit (Istanbul), in a match played late this evening in front of nearly 5,400 spectators in the Pala Verde Arena.
The return match is on Wednesday (March 20) in the Burhan Felek Arena in Istanbul. Only in case of success for Eczacibasi Dynavit with 3-2, the match will reach the so-called “golden” game. Any win by any other score for either team will qualify for the Women’s Volleyball Champions League Final.
A fantastic match for Conegliano was played by Swedish volleyball star Isabelle Haak, who scored 37 points (5 blocks, 3 aces and 45% attack efficiency) for the victory. Kathryn Plummer added 16 more points (1 ace, 47% offensive efficiency and 45% positive reception) for the win.
On the other hand, Serbian star Tijana Boškovic finished with 29 points (1 block, 2 aces and 42% attack efficiency) for Eczacibasi Dynavit. Hande Baladin and Canadian volleyball star Alexa Gray scored 12 points each, but their efforts were not enough to win.
