Maaseik’s European spring will last a little longer because Limburg has qualified for the quarter-finals of the CEV Cup in the Czech Republic. After a win in the golden set, because after a 3-1 home win, the Maaseikenaars scored 3-0 on Ceske Budejovice’s field. In the extra set, Maaseik hit hard: 9-15 and the ticket to the next round.
Ceske Budejovice 3-Maaseik 1 (golden set)
Looks like a knockout and still gets back up and takes the win. That is the summary of the European game that Maaseik played against the Czechs in Ceske Budejovice on Wednesday night. Maaseik needed two winning sets or a Golden Set win to qualify for the quarterfinals. Coach Fulvio Bertini’s team chose the most difficult scenario: the extra set.
Not that that was the plan, because the Italian coach indicated in advance that he didn’t want to take any risks and would rather play quickly for two winning sets. That seemed to work in the first set, where the home side took the lead through a powerful Licek, but Maaseik played Reggers just as well and kept the visitors on course. The Limburgers were not impressed by three set balls from the home side, but when the score was 25:25 there was a protest at a Protopsaltis camp marked by the Czech linesman.
Red alert
No set ball for the guests, who were 1-0 down shortly afterwards. Maaseik also played well in the second set, but despite a 15:16 lead by Treial, the Maaseik attackers often got stuck in the stiff block of the Czechs. 2-0 and code red for Maaseik, who already had to win two sets to avoid the extra set. Unfortunately for the visitors, Ceske Budejovice remained an impregnable fortress and Reggers and Co suffered a 25-16 set win.
back shell
Game over it seems, but that was without an extra helping of Limburg punching power. The Maaseikenaars straightened their backs and under the impulse of Treial, Reggers and Protopsaltis the visitors shot up to 5-10. The highlight was Ferre Reggers, good for 21 points and a score report of 68%. Maaseik is allowed into the quarterfinals. In it he plays against the best loser in the Champions League.
27-25, 25-21, 25-16, 9-15 (gold setting)
BUDEJOVICE: Giraudo 8, Stoilovic 5 (Michalek), Van Schie 20, Polak 7, Licek 15, Ondrovic 11. Libero: Krystof (Sedlacek).
MAASEIK: Vanker 2 (Aloisi), Bartos 4 (Hetman 2), Reggers 21 (Cox 1), Treial 8, Protopsaltis 7 (Baghdady 1), Fornes 5. Libero: Perin.
Source : HLN
