Manama, Bahrain, May 14, 2023 – Qatar’s Police Sports Team got their campaign in the 2023 Asian Men’s Club Volleyball Championship off to a flying start following a dramatic four-setter 25-19, 25-22, 22-25, 25-23 win against Atyrau VC of the Kazakhstan in their opening Pool D match at Issa Bin Rashid Hall 1 on Sunday.
Police Sports Team, the current League champions of Qatar, fielded a strong line-up led by powerful Turkish Efe Bayram and Estonian Oliver Venno to beat the former successive two-time bronze medallists Atyrau VC 25-19 in the first set, thanks to their excellent teamwork and solid defense.
In the second set, both teams were levelled at 15-15; However, Belal Nabel Abunabot saved the day for Police when he produced sliding attacks to widen the margin 23-19 after Police’s head coach Fernando Borrero asked for timeout. Police blocked the Kazakh attacks and tore their defense apart with their attacks to close the closely-contested set 25-22.
Police Sports Team took an early 6-2 lead in the third set, forcing the head coach of Atyrau VC to call timeout to improve their fortunes. Right after, Atyrau VC came up with their exceptional tactics and form to win the set 25-22.
Atyrau VC came into the court in the fourth set with the winning attitude but the Qataris left the Kazakhs side with a two-point clear at 20-18. The substitutions fielded by Atyrau VC’s head coach, Yurii Melnychuk, could not make any changes, as the determined Qatari rivals held firm to take the hard-fought set 25-23 and match.
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