Latvian champions Robežsardze/RSU lose 3-0 at Takovo in CEV Challenge Cup first leg

Robežsardze/RSU, the Latvian volleyball champions, lost 3-0 (25-16, 26-24, 25-17) to Takovo in Gornji Milanovac, Serbia, on Tuesday, 10 November, in their first European cup game for 18 years, Sportacentrs.com reported. It was the first leg of a two-game tie in the CEV Challenge Cup, the third tier of European club volleyball.

Close only in the second set

The hosts won the first set comfortably, 25-16. The Riga side matched them in the second but lost it 26-24. Takovo took the third 25-17.

Dāvis Stroķis was the top scorer for the Latvian team with 11 points. Eduards Dūdens added 10, four of them from blocks. Robežsardze/RSU won 10 points at the block in total, their opponents 11. The hosts' best player scored 19 points.

More errors on serve

The Riga side made nine errors in 59 serves, the hosts seven in 74. Toms Kalniņš had a difficult night in that department, missing four of his nine serves.

What they need in Riga

The return leg is next week at the Olympic Centre in Riga, starting at 19:00. In CEV cup ties a 3-0 or 3-1 win is worth three points, a 3-2 win two points and a five-set defeat one point. If the teams are level on points after both games, a golden set decides the tie. Robežsardze/RSU therefore need to win 3-0 or 3-1 at home to force a golden set; a 3-2 win will not be enough.

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