Akaa-Volley won a great victory in the volleyball Challenge Cup in Turkey. In the Women’s Challenge Cup, Kuusamo suffered a dull home defeat.
Akaa-Volley opened the men’s volleyball Challenge Cup on Wednesday with a wild away victory in Turkey. The CEV Challenge Cup is a three-level competition of the European Volleyball Federation.
Akaa-Volley defeated, among others, a world star György Grozer represented by Arkas Izmir 3–1 (23–25, 25–21, 25–20, 25–18). Born in Hungary, but representing Germany, Grozer has won the Champions League and World Cup bronze in his career.
Aka’s attack percentage was 50 against the home team’s 37. The team’s performance was very evenly distributed: Sakari Mäkinen 19/+11, Jaylen Jasper 18/+14, Niklas Seppänen 14/+10 and Petteri Tyynismaa 15/+10. Grozer was the most efficient of the home team (21/+15).
The second leg will be played in Akaa on Tuesday next week. Two set wins were enough for Akaa-Volley to advance. If Arkas wins 3–0 or 3–1, a golden round will be played for the next place.
The winner of the match pair will face Slovenian Panvita Pomgrad Murska Sobota in the next round.
A rude defeat for Kuusamo
On the other hand, Kuusamo experienced a home defeat to the Dutch Apollo 8 Borne 0–3 (22–25, 23–25, 25–27) in the opening match of the women’s Challenge Cup on Wednesday.
The latter leg will be played in Borne, Holland on October 16. Pölkky needs a 3–0 or 3–1 win for the next place, followed by a golden set win.
The first women of the home team were Essi Helminen with 15 and Erin Shoemaker with 13 points.
The winner of the match pair will face the winner of the pair Levski Sofia (Bulgaria) – VP UKF Nitra (Slovakia).
Source: Volleyball Association’s announcement