OOSTENDE cruise to #CEVChallengeCupW 16th Finals to set up Belgian derby with GENK
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On Wednesday night, Hermes Rekkenshop OOSTENDE of Belgium made it to the 16th Finals of the women’s CEV Volleyball Challenge Cup 2022 after securing a 3-2 home victory over their Dutch neighbours from SLIEDRECHT Sport to go with their 3-1 away win from the previous leg.
As they claimed a rather surprising 3-1 victory last week in the Netherlands over the undefeated leaders of the Dutch national league, the Belgians needed to take ‘only’ two sets from the re-match at home to secure their spot in the next round of the competition. However, team captain Yana De Leeuw and her colleagues were very clear in their intention not to make any calculations.
After a slow start, Hermes came back from a three-point deficit to make it 14-all and even two time-outs asked by the Dutch coach of SLIEDRECHT, Vera Koenen, could not stop OOSTENDE from taking the opening set 25-21. The second set followed the same plot with the visitors securing an early lead (6-2, 14-11) but Charlotte Leys and Loladina Zwaanswijk helped the home side respond to edge ahead at 15-14. With an ace, Merle Baasdam did not only secure a 25-21 set win for Hermes, but also their progression to the 16th Finals.
Even though they stood no chance anymore, SLIEDRECHT Sport put up a fight in the remainder of the match, eventually securing 25-22 and 25-20 wins in the third and fourth sets, respectively. The tiebreak, however, ended in a 15-13 triumph for Hermes Rekkenshop OOSTENDE. Baasdam top scored for the home side with 20 points, as Vera Mulder registered 14 for SLIEDRECHT in their losing, yet valiant effort.
In the 16th Finals, Hermes will contest a Belgian derby with Jaraco LVL GENK. The first of two matches with the team from Limburg will be taking place in Oostende on November 17, followed by the re-match a week later in Genk, thus accounting for more excitement in the already busy schedule of the team coached by Koen Devos.