Fino KAPOSVAR outplay domestic rivals in opening round of #CEVChallengeCupM 32nd Finals

After two seasons of absence and three calendar years away from the international Volleyball stage, Vegyész RC KAZINCBARCIKA returned to European competition – only to be drawn, by misfortune, against Hungary’s record champions Fino KAPOSVAR for a place in the last 32 of the continent’s third-tier cup. Their domestic rivals strengthened significantly over the summer, securing a roster with six foreign players and several experienced Hungarian internationals.

The match began in a good atmosphere, and the exciting, spectacular rallies quickly got the crowd clapping. However, Fino KAPOSVAR soon took control (8-4), and although their lead grew to six points (16-10), Vegyész tried to keep pace so much so that the visitors’ Slovenian head coach, Zoran Kedacic, called his first timeout at 17-15 for his side. A service ace from Márton Péter brought the score level, but Fino subsequently scored several points in a row to close out the opening set (25-18). 

The second set began with several good plays from the home side (6-4), but Fino quickly responded, prompting Miklós Toronyai to call his players to the side lines as they were trailing 10-14. The visitors, however, were not shaken, and playing confidently, eventually doubled their lead (25-14). 

Their determination did not waver for a moment (4-2), while Toronyai searched for the lineup that could most effectively challenge the opponent. Milán Árva and his teammates took risks with their serves, but it was the attacking errors that forced Toronyai to take his first timeout of the set (7-12). Juan Leandro Lescay contributed to closing the gap as much as possible (12-15), and although VRCK rallied back, the five-point Fino lead was soon restored (13-18). The visitors kept the match under control and can await next week’s second leg with confidence (25-17; 3-0).