Inside Volley Board

Novotel Cup is back in Luxembourg City for great Volleyball weekend
The annual Novotel Cup, organized by the Luxembourg Volleyball Federation in cooperation with quite a few local partners and sponsors, is back once again with the tournament set to run through this weekend at the splendid facilities of D’Coque in Luxembourg City. The starting field includes the national teams of Iceland, Liechtenstein, Scotland and Luxembourg for the women’s competition while the local guys will be joined by Belarus, Scotland and the US American team stemming from the Stevens Institute of Technology for the seventh edition of the trophy that was claimed last year by a solid Austrian side.
CEV

Belarus


Scotland


USA Stevens Ducks


Luxembourg

DAY 1

Scotland - Belarus 1:3 (25:16 22:25 24:26 16:25) PHOTO GALLERY
The first match in the male category took place between the Scottish team, which Luxembourg already welcomed the previous year, and Belarus, a newbie. Despite the physical superiority of the Byelorussian Scotland dominated the first set, leading 16:10 at the second technical timout. After the second timeout Belarus could reduce the difference, but was never able to catch up above all due to failure in service and defense. In the last part of the set Scotland again extended the lead, winning 25:16. The more experienced and older Scottish tam also dominated the first phase of the second set. However, the young Byelorussians - all players are below 20 years old - could balance the score at 22:25. The third set was an exciting neck-and-neck race, which the Eastern Europeans could luckily win at 24:26.

Luxembourg - USA Stevens Ducks 3:0 (25:18 25:17 25:19) PHOTO GALLERY
The second match for the host country: Luxembourg against the unknown American college team, the USA Stevens Ducks.
The coach of the Luxembougish National team in the Men's category, Burkhard Disch, trusted Lentz, Lux, Belhaouci, Laevaert, Vosahlo and Jungers as starting six as well as Husi as libero. An effective attack and a clever pass distribution led to a quickly lead. Despite the good defense of the American team, Luxembourg was able to keep and slowly extend its lead. The good communciation and ambience within the Luxembourgish team wowed the crowd. Both teams delivered Volleyball on a high level. In the end, Luxembourg could decide the first round at 25:18. Second set, same match, similar result. Luxembourg did not stop putting pressure on its attack and could also win the second set, gaining a 2:0 lead in sets. Even though the opponents from the other continent tried all in the last set to turn the tide, they also lost the third set with a score under 20.

Source: flvb.lu & volleyball.lu

DAY 2

Belarus – USA Stevens Ducks 3:0 (25:14 25:16 25:16)
After yesterday's defeat against the host team from Luxembourg, the USA college team also underlay in its second match against Belarus. Within three clear sets the young team from Eatern Europe could overcome the college team without any problems. In the end, the USA Stevens Ducks could scor in total 46 points.

Luxembourg - Scotland 3:0 (29:27 25:19 25:21) PHOTO GALLERY
In its second match, the Luxembourgish Men's National team confronted the well-known opponent from Scotland. The Luxembourgish coaching team Disch/Birca trusted again their starting six from Friday. From the beginning on, both teams did not give each other a run for their money, evidenced by the tense score. Whereas Luxembourg could enter the first technical timeout with a one-point lead, the second timeout was announced with a score in favour of the team from the British Island. 16:16, 17:17, 18.18. At 22:20 Luxembourg was able to get for the first time since the middle of the set a two-point lead. However, two self-made failures on Luxembourgish side balanced the score. The young setter Braas, whose participation was decided only on Thursday evening due to some health problems, entered the court for Lux for the service as well as Stutz on the diagonal position for Vosahlo. 24:24, 25:25, 26:26, 27:27. Effective attacks by Belhaouci led again and again to set balls for Luxembourg, but the host team was not able to close the first round until 29:27, when the audience could cheer for the lions.

In the second set, Disch changed again to his starting six. Both teams delivered the audience a spectacular neck-and-neck race, one team always just one point ahead. Under the supervision of the general director of Novotel Hotels Luxembourg, Mr. Eric Laporte, Luxembourg was able to reach a greater lead after the second technical timeout, with captain Ralf Lentz serving. In the end, Luxembourg was able to keep and even extend its four-point lead from 19:16 until the end at 25:20.

Third round - third try. The lions started well and got in the lead earlier than in the two sets before, above all again due to clever feints by the outside hitters Belhaouci and Laevaert. When entering the ten-point barrier, the host team was three-points ahead. Finally, Luxembourg did not hand over this important lead and decided the third and decisive set at 25:21.

Source: flvb.lu & photo.lu

Sunday 09.01.11
16.00h Luxembourg – Belarus
Awards and closing ceremony

LIVE on www.simba.lu

DAY 3

USA Stevens Ducks - Scotland 2:3 (25:19 17:25 19:25 25:16 11:15) Photo Gallery
Luxembourg - Belarus 0:3 (15:25 28:30 20:25) Photo Gallery

Final Ranking
1. Belarus
2. Luxembourg
3. Scotland
4. USA Stevens Ducks


Awards and closing ceremony

Video: Luxembourg - Belarus