Both Sada Cruzeiro and UPCN, who played off for bronze at last year's Club World Champs, have qualified for the semifinals at the South America Men's Club Championship
San Juan, Argentina, February 12, 2015 – Hosts UPCN San Juan Volleyball and Brazilian side Sada Cruzeiro booked their places in the South American Men’s Club Championship semifinals on Friday, with both sides picking up vital wins.
UPCN beat Argentinean rivals Lomas Volleyball while Taubaté / Funvic were put to the sword by compatriots Sada Cruzeiro.
Meanwhile, Bohemian Club of Uruguay beat San Martin de Bolivia 3-0 (25-14, 25-17, 25-18) to pick up the team’s first win. Lucas Mendez, Nicholas Nieves and Gonzalo Grossi all scored 11 points for the Bohemians.
Sada Cruzeiro confirmed their tag as favourites as they held off Taubaté / Funvic 3-0 (25-21, 25-23, 25-22) to qualify for the semifinal. Yoandy Leal topped the scores for Sada Cruzeiro, with 15 points.
"We played well, we maintained the pressure from the attack throughout the match,” Sada Cruzeiro captain William said. “They compounded with the service, but we resolved it. Winning gives us more confidence for what is coming, but relaxes us because we still have one more game to finish first in the group.”
"Before the game we thought we were going to win,” a puzzled Taubaté / Funvic captain Dante said following the match. “We must now think that we have to win to move to another phase."
UPCN played at a high tempo to beat Lomas in straight sets (25-13, 25-19, 28-26) with Nikolay Uchikov registering 21 points.
"They were sets of great intensity and good play,” UPCN captain Demian Gonzalez said. “We could reverse in the third quarter one situation where we were seven points down and that's good. In the semifinals we will surely face a Brazilian team, which has an international level. If we play well, we have many chances to reach the final."
South American Men’s Club Championship
San Juan, Argentina - 11 al 15 February 2015
GROUP A
UPCN San Juan Volleyball (ARG)
Lomas Volleyball (ARG)
Club Linares (CHI)
GROUP B
Sada Cruzeiro (BRA)
Taubaté / Funvic (BRA)
Club Atlético Bohemians (URU)
San Martín (BOL)
QUALIFYING PHASE
February 11
I taubaté 3 x Bohemians 0 (25-14, 25-18, 25-11)
Sada 3 x San Martín 0 (25-5, 25-14, 25-8)
UPCN 3 x Linares 0 (25-11, 27-25, 25-20)
February 12
San Martín 0 x Bohemians 3 (14-25,17- 25 and 18-25)
Sada 3 x Taubaté 0 (25-21, 25-23 and 25-22).
UPCN 3 x Lomas 0 (25-13, 25-19 and 28-26).
February 13 (LOCAL HOURS)
17:00 Lomas x Linares
19:30 Bohemians x Sada
22:00 Taubate x San Martín
SEMI-FINAL AND FINAL PHASE
February 14
The 3rd to 5th Place 17,30 x the 3rd B
19.30 Semifinal January 1 A x the 2nd B
21.30 Semifinal 1 February the 2nd B x B
February 15
19:00 3rd Place Loser Loser S1 x S2
21:00 Final Winner Winner S1 x S2