Novotel Cup 2011

    DAY 1


    Scotland - Iceland 1:3 (25:22 14:25 19:25 18:25)
    The first match in the 2011 edition of the famous Novotel-Cup! As usual the first two Women team started. This year the both Northern European countries Scotland and Iceland faced each other in this first round. After falling two points behind during the first part of the first set, Iceland put more pressure on its service. Scotland started to loose its advance due to a lot of self-caused mistakes. Iceland was able to quickly reduce the difference and to take over the lead, which it lost again at the second technical timeout at 16:15. Afterwards a neck-and-neck race started, which Scotland could finally win at 25:22. In the second set Iceland was able to extend its lead step by step until the final and self-explanatory result of 14:25 for the Icelandic team. The third set started more balanced, with Iceland reaching a small three-point lead, which it could again extend until the final result of 19:25. After winning also the fourth set, Iceland could defend Scotland 3:1.



    Luxembourg - Liechtenstein 3:1 (25:15 23:25 25:20 26:24) PHOTO GALLERY
    The first match of the Luxembourgish National Women team should have been a more clearly victory for the home team. Liechtenstein could not build on its complete team - only eight players - but fought until the end. In the first set, Luxembourg quickly gained a small lead which the host team could extend until the final score of 25:15. During the beginning of the second set, however, it seemed as a totally different home team had entered the court. Failures in reception and defense led to a score of 8:0 against Luxembourg, when the referee announced the first technical timeout. Following a good block behaviour, Luxembourg came back into play and reduced step by step the great difference. Notwithstanding several personal changes during the set, Luxembourg. nevertheless, could not balance and lost the set 23:25 after a failure in attack.


    The third set started well for the host team. Despite the insufficient Luxembourgish reception, the lions could go into the first technical timeout with a two-point lead. However, Liechtenstein did not give up and infused the audience with a spectacular defense. Close to the end of the set a neck-and-neck race started: 18:18, 19:19, 20:20. Luxembourg could win two points in a row: 22:20. Finally and above all due to strong attacks by Isabelle Frisch, Luxembourg could win the third set to 20. The fourth set started even better for the home team. Good services by diagonal player Betty Hoffmann and a well working block behaviour led to a secure lead at 20:10. Due to miscommunication and lack of concentration, a long changing procedure on the Liechtensteiner side and confusion with respect to the Luxembourgish formation, the Liechtensteiner player Schadegg reduced the difference in points by effectively serving. In the end, Liechtenstein could balance at 24:24. Fortunately, Luxembourg gained the following two points and therefore the match.


    Source: flvb.lu & volleyball.lu

    DAY 2


    Luxembourg - Iceland 1:3 (25:23 22:25 20:25 19:25) PHOTO GALLERY
    The duel between the host team and the team from the volcanic island represented the early final. Both teams had won their match on Friday against Liechtenstein and Scotland and the winner of this match would become the favorit for the trophy. In the first set, Luxembourg had difficulties to come into play. With a 3:8 deficit the Luxembourgish women entered into the first technical timeout. Effective services by Alliaume brought the home team back into play. After clever feints from the two middle blockers Alliaume and Mach as well as good attacks by outside hitter Braas, Luxembourg was able to take over the lead at the second technical timeout. In the end, Luxembourg was the lucky winner of the first set at a score of 25:23.


    In the second set, following a balanced beginning, Luxembourg lost several points in a row until the score of 10:6. The lions did not give up and could again take over the lead at 16:15. Finally, Iceland enforced its attacks and evened out the set ratio at 22:25. The third set then resembled the previous one. In the middle of the set, the host team lost several points in a row, lost track of its own play and were beaten at 20:25. The Luxembourgish coach Andrej Gorbachev changed the setter and the diagonal player - Emeringer for Breuer and Hoffmann for Weber. The new players brought in the needed variation and the lions could gain a solid six-point lead. However, in the end the host team again lost point after point due to lack in concentration. Iceland could also win the fourth and last set at 19:25.


    Liechtenstein - Scotland 3:0 (25:18 25:22 25:18 ) PHOTO GALLERY
    After the 3:1 defeat against the host team from Luxembourg yesterday evening, Liechtenstein was able to win its first match of the Novotel-Cup 2011. In three clear sets, Liechtstein overcome Scotland. Whereas the princedom dominated the first and third set, Scotland was able to eke out a six-point lead in the second set. In the end, Liechtenstein was able to catch up at 20:20, to take over the lead and to win the second round.


    Video: Luxembourg - Iceland