Crvena Zvezda crash Tenerife in #CEVCupW opening round

Crvena Zvezda BEOGRAD of Serbia secured a comprehensive 3-0 victory (25-18, 25-23, 25-14) on home soil as they started their journey in the 2024 edition of the women’s CEV Cup with a matchup against Spain’s Tenerife Libby’s LA LAGUNA. The team from the Canary Islands will be trying to make amends for this rather heavy loss next November 15 when they play the return match in front of their own fans. 

Even though the visitors from Spain edged ahead early in the first set (8-6), the home side responded swiftly to turn the score around (16-12). With the help of Jelena Stojić, Crvena Zvezda prevented the team coached by Miguel Rivera from regrouping and cruised to a comfortable 25-18 set win. Although the start of the next set was very much under control of the hosts (8-4), the Spaniards fought their way back and eventually managed to level the score (22-22). Despite the contributions of Linda Jessica Costa and Lisbet Arredondo, Crvena Zvezda showed much consistency and composure in the key moments to double their lead in the match (25-23). Tenerife made another attempt at changing the course of the game early in the third set, but the Belgrade team stood strong slowly but surely extending their advantage (21-14). Tenerife Libby’s continued to show problems in reception and eventually lost the third set at a canter (25-14). The Spaniards still want to pursue their European dream and will hope to vie for a Golden Set in about a week when they play the return match at home. 

MVP of the game was Jelena Stojić, who was also the top scorer with 14 points for the home side of Crvena Zvezda. No player of Tenerife Libby’s LA LAGUNA finished the match in double digits. 

Shealyn McNamara, player of Tenerife Libby’s LA LAGUNA: “Obviously, it was not the result that we wanted but we have been working extremely hard on playing as a team and as cohesive as a unit and I think that we have been putting on a very good display of that today. It felt like we were unified, and this is something that we will continue working on for the rest of the season. We are a new group this year, and for this reason that’s certainly a focus for us in the Spanish league and in the CEV Cup as well since we have at least another chance to play against this team.”

Miguel Rivera, head coach of Tenerife Libby’s LA LAGUNA: “We started the match quite strong, as we were even in the lead, but we had two bad rotations where we struggled, whereas Crvena Zvezda played extremely well with their block and defence, and we could not finalise our side-out. The start of the second set was bad, but we worked extremely hard, and we even had the lead at some point. Unfortunately, we made a few mistakes at the end of the set and that was the turning point. The Serbian team did grow in confidence and performed even better in the third set than they had done before. They played well and put pressure on us with their service. We obviously wish to play at least the Golden Set at home next week.”