VaLePa leads the men’s volleyball final series with a 2–0 victory.
VaLePa won yet another men’s volleyball final when it claimed an away victory over Akaa-Volley. The final numbers of the match were 1–3 (20–25, 25–19, 23–25, 18–25).
Akaa-Volley scored more points than VaLePa, but also many more mistakes. They came especially at the wrong moments, for Akaa-Volley, to the chagrin of most of its record audience (1,311 spectators).
VaLePa’s most effective was the Estonian general player who scored 18 points Karli Allik. He served five of the team’s nine aces. Allik solved the important third set win for the visitors with a pass.
– Passing has always been my best weapon. This is a good starting point for Saturday’s third final. I hope we can get the job done quickly so that I have time to rest a bit before the national team camp starting on May 1, Allik said.
“Akaa was much better than in the opening final”
Ali Fazli scored 24 points for the home team, but on the other hand, three consecutive offensive errors in the decisive moments of the fourth set. Greg Petty scored 21 points.
– Ali Fazli was much better in two sets than in the opening final, but after the break, the blocking and defense improved and we got their attack power lower. Overall, Akaa was much better than in the opening final, Allik analyzed.
VaLePa has played against Akaa-Volley 24 times throughout the years and won no less than 22 of them. The only losses are in the regular season, in Tampere in March 2020 and in Akaa in September 2022.
– We were able to keep our game more even than the opponent. Especially in the second set, Akaa showed how good a game they can play at their best, but they couldn’t sustain it in the third and fourth, VaLePan Sakari Mäkinen stated.
The third final will be played already tomorrow.
– It will come quickly. Starts even earlier than today’s game. It’s not an optimal situation, but it’s the same for both teams. Now just focusing on recovery.
Savo Volley postponed the distribution of bronze medals – This game was a two-part play of suffering
Savo Volley moved the men’s volleyball Championship League bronze medals to Saturday by beating the home team Raision Loimu 3-1 on Friday. This way the wins are exactly 1-1.
Head coach of Savo Volley Timo Tolvanen couldn’t find much good in the game other than winning.
– It was a two-part play of suffering. The chipper had to be replaced, and Ilya Ivanov got a chance. Of course, he has played as a chipper in the first league in Pielavesni Sammo, but all the stones had to be turned over today, Tolvanen said.