How to score match point without realising it

While Bluenergy Daiko Volley PIACENZA won the extra set against MONTPELLIER HSC VB by a clear margin (15-7), the derby between the two Belgian teams and arch-rivals Knack ROESELARE and Greenyard MAASEIK ended in a thriller.

In front of 2,200 spectators in a scintillating Steengoed Arena, a Golden Set was the only possible outcome. In fact, six of the seven sets in both regular games had been decided by the smallest of margins: 3-1 in Roeselare (25-23, 20-25, 25-23, 25-23) and with even more suspense 3-0 (25-23, 28-26, 28-26) in Maaseik.

Yet the best was still to come in the Golden Set between the eternal domestic rivals. After a seesaw fight over 5-7, 10-8 and 11-13, the locals survived two match points before Argentinean Pablo Koukartsev put a gruelling end to Maaseik’s aspirations at 15-17, without knowing it himself.

His attack was stuff-blocked successfully by Adam Bartos, returning the ball on the back of Koukartsev’s shoulder. Yet, in one or another way, the ball decided to make its way back over the net and over Maaseik’s block, before finishing its trajectory on the floor.

Koukartsev himself did not realise what had happened, when he saw his teammates jumping for joy and celebrating following such a bizarre match point, even more peculiar than the one Earvin Ngapeth scored in the final match of EuroVolley 2015 between France and Slovenia in Sofia, Bulgaria.

Anyway, his score offered Knack ROESELARE a semi-final against Bluenergy Daiko Volley PIACENZA. The other spot in the final will be contested by PGE Skra BELCHATOW and Valsa Group MODENA.