The cup final week started today (Friday) with another round in the Women’s Volleyball Premier League. The two finalists, Maccabi Haifa and Hapoel Kfar Saba, will compete in an uplifted mood after winning – the Northerners Hadera, the team from the Sharon and Kiryat Ata. Here is what happened today on the pitches:
Upper house
Maccabi Hadera – Maccabi Haifa 3: 1 (28:26, 25:21, 21:25, 25:13)
Maccabi Hadera in a less good period and on the other hand Maccabi Haifa showed that they are currently in wonderful shape, just before the final of the State Cup against Hapoel Kfar Saba this coming Thursday. The Haifa team won the first game quite easily, hence the game became close and dramatic with Hadera winning the second game, Maccabi Haifa winning the third and the fourth game ending with a tiebreaker and a victory for a team from Carmel.
Simona Dmitrova (62% in reception, 45% in attack, and 4 aces) and Maya Okonomido (50% in reception, 36% in attack, block and 4 aces) led Maccabi XT Haifa with 22 and 21 points respectively. The team reception percentage was 65%, and the attack percentage 36%, blocked 10 balls (4 of them by Ortal Ivgi), scored 12 aces and made 27 general mistakes in the game (8 in the refusal, 2 in the reception and 17 in the attack).
Hana Tobikina (45% on offense, 3 blocks and 2 aces) and Vira Klimovich (45% on offense, 6! Blocks) led Maccabi Hadera with 15 points each. The team finished with 54% on reception and 31% on offense. 13 balls, scored 2 aces and made 28! General mistakes in the game (6 in refusal, 12! In reception and 10 attacks).
Hapoel Urban Kiryat Ata – Hapoel Kfar Saba 3: 0 (25:23, 25:17, 25:19)
An impressive victory for Kfar Saba in the last game before the state cup final against Maccabi Haifa on Thursday, the first two sets went quite easily for Elad Spegget’s apprentices while the third set was close but at the end the Kfar Saba team had the upper hand and won the whole game.
Anya Wiliki (75% on offense, 43% on offense, block and ace) and Weilina Sheinen (27% on offense, 2 aces) led Hapoel Kfar Saba with 17 and 14 points respectively, followed by Tali Hex (75% on offense, 50% on offense) with 10 points. The team finished with 70% in the reception and 40% in the attack, blocked one ball, scored 3 aces and made 20 general mistakes in the game (7 in the refusal, 4 in the reception and 9 in the attack).
Svetlana Shvanska (86% in reception, 32% in attack, block and 3 aces) and Di Castro (29% in attack, one block) led Hapoel Urbani Kiryat Ata with 13, and 10 points respectively. 75% in acceptance for the team and 31% on offense, 4 blocks, 5 aces and made 21! General errors in the game (12 opening strokes, 3 receptions and 6 attacks).
Lower house
Maccabi Mosinson Hod Hasharon – MK Maccabi Raanana 0: 3 (23:25, 16:25, 21:25)
A surprising victory today for Hod Hasharon, which broke a streak of three consecutive losses in the lower house and was the team’s second victory this season. The game was close in the first set when in the second set the girls of Hod Hasharon won relatively easily on the way to a close third set and a victory over the lower house leader Maccabi Raanana.
Diana Karnitskaya (100% in reception, 50% in attack, block and ace) led Maccabi Mosinson Hod Hasharon with 19 points. The team reception percentage was 66%, and the offense percentage was 42%, blocking 6 balls, 12 aces, and finishing with 21 overall errors in the game (9 in the refusal, 9 in the reception and 3 in the attack).
Lisa Sirich (67% on offense, 31% on offense, block and 6! Aces) and Anna Müller (41% on offense, block and ace) led M.C. Maccabi Raanana with 15 and 14 points. The team reception percentage was 52%, and the offense percentage was 34%, blocking 7 balls, getting 11 aces and making 25! General errors in the game (8 in the refusal, 8 in the reception and 9 in the attack).
Tomorrow, the round will end with a game between Maccabi Banot Nazareth and KK Tel Aviv (18:30), and on Monday – the celebration of the semifinals of the State Cup for men at the Anerbax Hall in Hadera: In the second game, Maccabi Tel Aviv will play against Hapoel HaMa’apil Emek Hefer / Menashe (19:00). On Thursday, there will be a double presentation of the state cup final for women and men starting at 18:15 in the Anerbax Hall in Hadera.