CALZEDONIA VERONA – ARAGO DE SETE 3-2 (25-23, 21-25, 25-20, 23-25, 21-19) CALZEDONIA VERONA : Zingel 14, Kovacevic 18, Pesaresi (L), Gitto 5, Lecat 7, Spirito, Baranowicz 4, Starovic 8, Bellei, Sander 24, Anzani 14. DNP Bucko. Coach. Giani.
ARAGO DE SETE: Hernan Ruperez 3, Lafitte 7, Moreau 29, Lamoise 20, Bonnefoy, Senger 6, Petrov 1, Henry 2, Rossard (L), Mendez 11. DNP Rossard. Coach. Duflos.
Verona won its seventh game in as many played in the Challenge Cup at the expense of Sète. In the quarter-final first leg, the Italian clinched it at the tie-break at home at the end of a game that lasted over two hours. The return game will be played on March 2 in France. A tense fifth set saw Verona taking the early lead (5-3) but the visitors responded with Moreau as the main architect (8-6 for the French). Pushed by its supporters, Verona fought back again as Baranowicz found various solutions with its spikers. Then an ace from Sander made it 14-12. Both match points were cancelled by Sète. An extraordinary ending eventually favoured the hosts who snatched it 21-19.
