VaLePa, the reigning Finnish volleyball champion, took another victory in the final matches when he knocked down Savo Volley again – this time at home.
VALEPA took its second victory in the finals of the men’s volleyball championship league when it defeated Savo Volley 3–1 at home (17–25, 25–21, 25–23, 25–16). The reigning Finnish champion now leads 2–0 when four wins are needed for the championship.
Savo Volley, who lost his home advantage in the previous match after five rounds, came into the match strongly, attacked effectively, and VaLePa found no way to beat the visitor in the first round. Savo’s attack was more widespread, while VaLePa’s powers were very largely Sakari Mäkinen on the shoulders.
The hill again became the hottest player in the match, played by the passer Mikko Esko fed up when Savo’s fight got to shine in the previous match Jiri Hänninen discipline. In the second installment, Mäkinen took on an increasing role and helped his team win the semi-finals, while VaLepa’s pass softened Michael Michelauta and Savo reception.
Savo got his reception to work and rushed the start of the third round again, but then collapsed with numerous errors in both the input box and the attacks. Coach Timo Tolvanen tried to get the game on new tracks with time and substitutions, but the lot turned to VaLePa.
Hänninen, who got out of Savo’s pliers, was effective especially at the beginning of the fourth set, and the home team immediately managed to escape to as much as 5–0 lead. From time to time, Tolvanen got a boost in the game with changes, but in the previous match, Savo’s kindling players Olli-Pekka Ojansivu and Antti Siltala remained on the bench. VaLepa’s field defense worked well and the feed power remained high, so it eventually marched into a large-scale batch win.
Mäkinen was VaLePA’s powerful man with 21 points with a power balance of +13, Jiri Hänninen eventually rose to 14 and Matias Tihumäki 11 points. Savon Andrus Raadik hit power 17 / + 9, Michael Michelau finished 13th and Mikko Räsänen 11 points.
Savo Volley is now in a rather difficult place, as the next final match will be played tomorrow, Thursday. The venue is Sastamala again.
– We are not currently playing at our own level. Maybe your opponent will make us look worse than we are. We have to start playing Savo volleyball and this is not a game we want, we hope for, Tolvanen said in a press release from Savo Volley.
Coach of VaLePa Janne Kangaskokon according to the home team, playing defensive balls began to roll in the second installment, and it gave faith.
– We have a lot of young players on the field and the level varies within the game. The game is hectic. It took us a while before we found the right emotional state for the game, Kangaskokko said in a press release.