European Cup air is obviously good for VCA Amstetten: Despite the 2:3 (-21, 23, -21, 21, -10) away defeat in the round of 16 first leg of the CEV Challenge Cup against Lausanne UC, the Mostviertler still have good chances of winning the Climbing into the top eight in Europe.
After two strong performances against Kharkiv and CSKA Sofia, the game in Switzerland was Amstetten’s first appearance in a European round of 16. However, there was no sign of nervousness among the Lower Austrians. In the well-filled university sports hall in Lausanne, they delivered a gripping fight that went over five sets. In the end, the hosts narrowly won 3-2, but the starting position for the second leg on Wednesday at 8.15 p.m. in the Amstettner Pölz-Halle is excellent for the VCA.
Libero as an outside attacker
“It’s amazing what performances we’re currently delivering internationally. A compliment to my team,” said VCA sports director Michael Henschke after the match: “With their main attacker from Cuba, who played in the first Italian league last year , Lausanne is really strong.” With 32 points, Cuban Ramirez was also the top scorer for the Swiss. They started the game better and won the first round with 25:21. The second set was also contested, in which libero Lauris Ochaya, who played the European Cup match for the VCA as an outside attacker, worked out three set balls with a great service series, of which the Mostviertler converted the second to 25:23. The next two sets each ended 25:21, first for the Swiss, then for Amstetten. In the deciding set, Lausanne prevailed 15:10.
“Nevertheless, we have a good starting position for the second leg. With the home fans behind us, we could create the next sensation and thus make it into the quarter-finals,” says Henschke.
Source: Nachrichten
