On December 26, the first matches of the 1st stage of the Women's Cup of Ukraine 2023/24 took place. We would like to remind you that at this stage thirteen teams are competing, and they were divided into four groups. The games are held at three locations in the Chernivtsi region: TRK "Soniachna Dolyna", "PVLU" Arena, and SH "Budivelnyk".
Group A (TRGC "Soniachna Dolyna", Boiany village)
"Regina-MEGU-OSHVSM" — "Khmelnytski Pantery" 3-0 (25:17, 25:19, 27:25)
The Rivne team not without problems, but still overcame the resistance of the Khmelnytski Pantery. "Regina", so to speak, spent the first two sets in one breath. And it seemed that the third set would not be an exception.
However, their opponents had a different opinion about this: they started to act more aggressively and variably in attack, which led to a comfortable separation of the Khmelnytski team at the end of the game. However, a savior was found in the equation in the person of Andriana Pavlyk, who helped her team turn the tide of the confrontation.
Group B ("PVLU" Arena, Hodyliv village)
"Halychanka-ZUNU" — VC "Voleybuk-ChNU-CHODYUSSH" 3-0 (25:17, 25:15, 25:22)
The players of Ternopil won the victory over the volleyball players of the local "Voleybuk", which was their debut this season. Because in the Super League-Dmart 2023/24, Liudmyla Chornenka's wards have only one point after eleven matches.
It should be noted that the representatives of the Higher League could win the third set, where their opponents lost their concentration a little. However, they could not take advantage of this chance.
"Naftusia" — "The team of Poltava region-Poltavshchyna-PNPU" 3-0 (25:22, 29:27, 25:15)
Despite the overall 3-0, this match turned out to be one of the most interesting of all the games of the current day. If, for example, the Poltava team triumphed in the second set, the confrontation could take a completely different vector of events.
However, this did not happen: the experienced volleyball players of Naftusia proved to be stronger. In particular, the outside hitter of the Truskavets club Dariia Kondratiuk last season defended the colors of "Dobrodiy", and the libero Tetiana Hrashchenko - of "Balta".
Group B (TRGC "Soniachna Dolyna", Boiany village)
Sports Academy "Prometey" — VC "Kryvbas" 3-0 (25:13, 25:9, 25:16)
Sports Academy "Prometey" confirmed the status of the favorite of group B, leaving no chances for "Kryvbas". Note that both teams represent the Higher League, where they are located at different poles of the tournament table.
Anastasiia Kotliarenko's wards are the leaders of the competition in terms of points lost, while the team from Kryvyi Rih, on the contrary, are outsiders. In the end, today the teams fully justified their position, but in the cup game.
Group G (SH "Budivelnyk", Chernivtsi)
VC "Bukovynka" — VC "Prykarpattia-Olympia-DYUSSh #2" 3-0 (25:17, 25:17, 25:18)
Bukovynka, one of the leaders of the Super League-Dmart, and Prykarpattia-Olympia-DYUSSh No. 2, a middle-based team of the Higher League, met in the only match at the court of Budivelnyk SH. Considering this fact, Artem Dyhtiarenko's wards were considered clear favorites.
The mentor himself had a great opportunity to check the nearest reserve and try out certain tactical schemes. As a result, the sensation did not happen, although it is worth paying tribute to the athletes from Ivano-Frankivsk, who fought for every point.
The tournament standings of the teams can be viewed via the link.
