#CEVChallengeCupM semis deliver one of longest sets in European Cups history

Lindemans AALST and Allianz MILANO emerged victorious from the first leg of the #CEVChallengeCupM semis – albeit they did so in very different ways. Lindemans AALST required five sets and almost three hours to edge VK Slovan BRATISLAVA whereas Allianz MILANO looked formidable in their home matchup with Altekma SK IZMIR. 

Allianz MILANO are chasing their second triumph in the competition after their success in the 2020/2021 season. They have been enjoying a terrific run not conceding any sets to their opponents this far with the only exception of a 2-3 loss at home to Nordic CZESTOCHOWA in the quarterfinals – which came when they had already secured the two sets they needed to advance to the semis so that loss was totally uninfluential. On Wednesday night, they delighted a crowd of 1,200 people at the state-of-the-art Allianz Cloud in Milan as they swept aside Altekma SK IZMIR in three sets (25-21, 32-30, 25-18) with Ferre Reggers scoring as many as 28 points on his own in the process. The return match in Izmir will be a mountain to climb for Altekma SK – as they will have to record a 3-0 or 3-1 win to force a Golden Set. 

The other semis in Bratislava was a match to remember since it included a 60-minute long second set ending at 44-42 in favour of VK Slovan to account for one of the longest sets – also point-wise – in the CEV European Cups since the introduction of the rally point system. The hosts fought back after losing the opening set at a canter (11-25) before claiming that dramatic second set and losing the subsequent third which ended well into overtime as well (29-31). Slovan resorted to their experienced outside hitter Peter Michalovic (17 points) to turn the score around in the fourth (25-14) but eventually came up short in the tiebreak (13-15). Therefore, there is still a lot to play for next week in Belgium when the return game is contested in Aalst. 

VK Slovan are the first team from Slovakia to reach the last four in a European competition since OMS SH SENICA had finished fourth in the 2005 edition of the CEV Cup. During the Czechoslovak era, CH BRATISLAVA had triumphed in the men’s Champions Cup (1979) and Cup Winners’ Cup (1981) – and Slavia BRATISLAVA had emerged victorious from the 1976 edition of the women’s Cup Winners’ Cup.