Emalsa put up fight but lose in straight sets to pre-favourite VALLEFOGLIA

Emalsa GRAN CANARIA showed their fighting spirit but did eventually fall to a solid Megabox group VALLEFOGLIA in the first round of the women’s CEV Challenge Cup quarterfinals 0-3 (21-25, 20-25, 17-25). The yellow-clad side went toe to toe with the powerful Italian outfit for long stretches of the match, but were unable to match their opponents in the closing points of each set. The return leg will be played in Pesaro next Wednesday, February 4, at 8:00 p.m.

CV Emalsa suffered their first defeat in European competition this season. The Canarian side put in a brave performance in every set against the formidable Italian team Megabox group VALLEFOGLIA in the first leg of the Challenge Cup quarterfinals, but came away empty-handed, failing to secure at least one set they arguably deserved. The match remained evenly balanced until the decisive moments of each set, where the visitors showed their pedigree. The islanders will travel to Italy next week facing a daunting 0-3 deficit, but with their confidence and ambition fully intact, eager to once again rise to the challenge against one of the tournament favourites.

Emalsa came out firing from the opening whistle and took an early lead (6-3). The visitors, however, gradually found their rhythm and, taking risks from the service line, levelled the score in an electric contest (9-9). The Olympic Arena crowd witnessed a tightly contested battle as the home side held firm (12-13). The Italian team began to speed up their offensive play at the net, while Emalsa committed very few errors, staying fully engaged in a high-quality opening set (16-17). A couple of pinpoint serves allowed VALLEFOGLIA to open a gap late in the set, prompting home coach Juan Diego Garcia Diaz to call a timeout in an attempt to regroup (17-20). Although Emalsa improved after the stoppage, the Italians made the most of their slim advantage to take the opening set 25-21. 

The second set also began evenly (6-6), but once again the Italian side pulled away, showcasing their best Volleyball as Emalsa struggled in reception, forcing another timeout from the home bench (11-17). Refusing to give in, Emalsa responded with an 8-4 run that brought them right back into contention and compelled VALLEFOGLIA coach Andrea Pistola to call a timeout of his own (19-21). After the break, his side refocused and closed the set with a 4-1 run to secure the second set as well (25-20).

The visitors struck early in the third set, quickly opening a decisive gap as they pushed toward a straight-sets victory (5-10). Even so, Emalsa, buoyed by the lively atmosphere in the stands, battled back and gradually reduced the deficit (11-13). As in the previous sets, the Italian side maintained near-flawless Volleyball, once again asserting their dominance in the closing points to seal a 3-0 (25-17) win and take a commanding advantage back to Italy - against an Emalsa GRAN CANARIA  side that showed real heart despite the defeat.