The Hapoel Kfar Saba women’s volleyball team completed a double victory over L.P. Salo from Finland, and qualified for the next stage of the Challenge Cup (1/16, one stage before the eighth). After winning last week away 1:3, the players in green in front of an enthusiastic audience of about 700 people crossed the corners 0:3, and in the next stage they will face Eversa de Menorca from Spain (one of the Balearic Islands).
Kfar Saba came into the game determined to decide the game as quickly as possible. “The first set is the most important,” Hapoel KPS Chairman Gerry Abramowitz told me during the game. Indeed, the women of Kfar Saba crossed the corners in the first two sets (11:25 and 17:25). In the first set Salo led 2:4, but Kfar Saba with 14 consecutive points (6:16) left no chance for the guest. The second set was tight until the 15th point, at which point Kfar Saba started a blitz and ran away to the Finns.
The third set was under the control of the corners, who led all the way up to 20:23. Salo lacked two points to win the match, but Kfar Sabayot excelled, impressive ability in the attack of Yoniska Batista, who was born in Cuba and has Kazakhstani citizenship (finished with 15 points), together with Shirlene Bashoron from Cameroon, and Fernanda Tomer from Brazil (10 points approx.) A) and a great team game by the other players, they completed the task with a victory in the set 26:28.
About 700 fans filled the Eric Einstein Hall, creating a colorful atmosphere in the stands. Many of them came dressed in green and with club scarves. Before the game, a special ceremony was held, in the presence of the Deputy Ambassador of Finland, Joanna Tonanen, and Yossi Sarodi, the owner of the club’s main sponsor, the HI Group, who regularly accompanies the team’s games.
Kfar Saba coach Saba Devash: “I thank the large crowd that came and cheered, it helped the players to win. We won thanks to the desire to prove that we are capable of going far in this enterprise. The girls stood up well tactically. In the next stage we will have a strong opponent from Spain, who did not lose at home. It will be more difficult pass, especially that the return match will be held at their place, but we believe in ourselves.”