Even before the game, Allianz MTV Stuttgart had to cope with a loss: top attacker Krystal Rivers was unable to play due to illness. The MTV Stuttgart left So different than the sovereign semi-final success against Zagreb weakened in terms of personnel in the final first leg against the Turkish record champions. And so the hostesses demonstrated their position as favorites in the first set. The Stuttgart defense was often powerless against the strong attacks of diagonal attacker Tijana Boskovic. After a 4:9 deficit, MTV coach Tore Aleksandersen called the first time-out. But even after that, the guests rarely found solutions against the attack of the Istanbul women. In addition, a few aces found their way into the Stuttgart field. Consequently, the first set went to Istanbul with 25:19.
Lee and Timmerman turn up the heat
In the second set, the MTV women stabilized in acceptance and were able to keep up with Istanbul. With the 7:6, the first Stuttgart lead in the second set was perfect. Istanbul no longer scored easy points, every rally was fought over. Simone Lee and Eline Timmerman took charge and scored again and again against the Turkish block of three. When the score was 16:13, Istanbul took a break and immediately scored two points.
However, the Swabians remained calm, continued to play at a high level and even extended their lead to four points. However, Eczacibaşi recovered and closed the gap to 20:21. But the Istanbul team couldn’t equalize. Mira Todorova provided the first set ball in Stuttgart, which MTV immediately converted. With 25:22 the outsiders won the second set to 1:1.
Third set goes to Istanbul
Istanbul was initially impressed in the third set, while Stuttgart continued to turn up the heat. The rallies became more and more spectacular, the fans in the hall saw volleyball at the highest level. Top attacker Boskovic became more stable after a period of weakness, gave Eczacibaşi a 10:8 lead – and initially ensured that this lead lasted.
However, the guests did not admit defeat and moved up to one point at 17:18. But Eczacibaşi was undeterred. Although Boskovic missed the first of five Istanbul set balls, team colleague Maja Ognjovic did better afterwards: Istanbul won the third set 25:20.
Boskovic decides game
The Stuttgart volleyball team started the fourth round with a 2:0 lead, which the hosts turned to 2:4 with four points in a row. No reason for Stuttgart to let up. The game remained tight, and neither team was able to gain a decisive advantage at first. Istanbul won the game’s longest rally up to that point to 10:9, but MTV immediately countered and equalized to 10:10. There was passionate fighting in every rally, and no team let up.
Only in the second half of the sentence did Istanbul continue to pull away thanks to the outstanding Tijana Boskovic. The Serbian superstar scored a total of 34 points for Eczacibaşi. And so it was Boskovic who converted the first of a total of seven Istanbul match points with a block to a 3-1 success.
Still a remaining chance for the title in the second leg
Allianz MTV Stuttgart has a difficult but not impossible starting position for the second leg due to the defeat. The game between Stuttgart and Istanbul will take place on March 22 in Stuttgart (7 p.m.). The SWR broadcasts the game live in the stream.
Source: SWR