Tenerife Libby’s La Laguna showcased their strength on Tuesday in the first leg of the 1/32 finals of the CEV Challenge Cup, defeating Maccabi Haifa 3-1 at the Pablos Abril sports hall. The Israeli team initially took the lead, establishing a 4-1 advantage, but this was short-lived as Tenerife quickly equalised and began to dominate the match.
After an exchange of points that brought the score to 8-8, Tenerife Libby’s La Laguna surged ahead, demonstrating a powerful performance on their home court. Under the guidance of coach Ricardo Lemos, the team found effective solutions in both attack and defence. Players Joki and Fortuna excelled in scoring from the corners, while Soto and Carla were formidable at the net. The first set concluded decisively with a score of 25-12, following an impressive 11-0 run.
The second set saw a back-and-forth start, with Maccabi Haifa briefly taking the lead at 4-2. However, Tenerife regained control, executing a strong 8-0 run to lead 10-4. The team displayed no weaknesses, and with contributions from Sundara and Joki, they secured the set 25-17.
In the third set, Maccabi Haifa took the initiative, leading 16-9 at one point, prompting Lemos to call a timeout. This pause allowed Tenerife to regroup, and they managed to narrow the gap to 17-16. Despite a fierce battle, Maccabi Haifa clinched the set 26-24, with key performances from Yunieska Batista and Madeleine Whittington.
Determined to avoid a tiebreak, Tenerife Libby’s La Laguna aimed to close the match in the fourth set. Maccabi Haifa initially took a 6-2 lead, but Tenerife remained composed and fought back. Sundara, Joki, and Fortuna played crucial roles in turning the match around, ultimately winning the set 25-17 and the match 3-1.
This victory provides Tenerife Libby’s La Laguna with a solid advantage heading into the return leg, which will take place on Thursday at 18:00 at Pablos Abril.
