Challenge Cup: Halkbank to semifinal

The hosts of Halkbank Ankara will face Italians of Powervolley Milano in CEV Challenge Cup semifinal. They win in four sets against As Cannes Volley Ball from France, in 113 minutes, on their home soil.
About the match, a first set in one direction, with the Turkish hosts superior in all fundamentals: 63% in attack, 77% positive reception and 5 winning blocks, 3 by Gökgöz, author of 7 points, with 100% in attack.
In the second set, despite the Halkbank still trying to escape, it is more balanced, with Cannes managing to carry on 11:13, and keeping the advantage until 20, when the hosts press on the accelerator and close the set with a convincing 25: 21.The third set is a replica of the previous ones, with the Turks leading the game. On the field Liot for Gelinski, Lacassie for Aciobanitei and Rodriguez for Averill. The strategy works, because Cannes puts down the ball of 21:24 and, with a final 22:25, tries to reopen the match, with an increased attacking performance, 7 points from Williams and 5 from Lacassie, only in this third set . In the fourth set, despite Cannes getting off to a strong start gaining a two-point lead, the hosts make fewer mistakes and fly to 13:10.
An advantage that grows up to 19:15, and despite Cannes’ desperate attempts to recover, it is now too late: 25:19 is the final result, and the ticket for the semifinal goes to the hosts of Halkbank Ankara. Hernandez, the top scorer among the winners, scored 20 points while Berger and Günes contributed 8 winning blocks apiece, out of their team’s 12 in total (against 7 in Cannes, 3 by Koncilja). As for Cannes, only Williams proved to be concrete in attack, scoring 23 points and earning the title of top scorer of the match, but it was not enough because all the other spikers struggled: the outside-hitters in particular, Aciobanitei and the captain, Klyamar, scored 6 and 8 points, respectively with 30% and 37% in attack. The middle-blockers are also struggling, especially Averill, 3 points (1 block, and 22% in attack), replaced by Rodriguez.