|
The Faroese Volleyball family crowned on Saturday their 2016 national champions when
 the final series came to an end with Fleyr (pictured) and SÍ celebrating their seventh and fourth titles in the women’s and men’s competition, respectively. Though everything went just easy for the men of SÍ, the women’s final was a lot more dramatic and Fleyr eventually had the upper hand only after surviving three championship points for their opponents of Dráttur Vágar in the golden set, a format which was introduced for the first time ever in the Faroe Islands.
Women’s Finals: Fleyr Tórshavn celebrate seventh title after golden set win For the first time since 1997, the women of Fleyr Tórshavn claimed the Faroese championship after a dramatic final against Dráttur Vágar where they survived three championship points to turn it around and win 16-14 in the decisive golden set. Fleyr had handsomely beaten Dráttur 3-1 in the first leg on Thursday, so it was crucial for Dráttur to get off to a winning start on Saturday. They did that, but just barely, as they were facing a set point at 24-25, but managed to win the next three points to wrap up the set 27-25. Dráttur was trailing again at 17-22 in the second set, but with superb serving from the experienced Sólgerð Henriksen, Dráttur went ahead 24-22 before winning 25-23. The third set was a one-sided affair where Dráttur cruised to a commanding 25-16 win to set up a grand stand finale with a golden set – which for the first time was being used in the Faroe Islands. Dráttur went from a 9-5 lead to earn three championship points at 14-11, but Fleyr kept their cool to win five points in a row – and so did especially server Eva Winther Nagata, who wasn’t even born when Fleyr won their last league title in 1997 – to clinch the golden set 16-14 and with it Fleyr’s seventh Faroese championship to add to their maiden cup title they had won a month ago. Results Thursday, March 24: Dráttur vs Fleyr 1-3 (20-25, 10-25, 25-13, 13-25)
Although stretched to 27-25 in the third set in the second leg final on Saturday, there was little doubt about which team was the best on the day and over the two finals, as well as during the whole season where SÍ lost only one match. However, Fleyr Tórshavn took a surprise lead in the first leg on Thursday, winning the first set 25-18 before SÍ quickly took control of the match, emphatically winning 25-14, 25-22 and 25-19. The first two sets in the second leg on Saturday were pretty one-sided, as SÍ recorded dominant 25-21 and 25-19 wins, but in the third set they faced stiff opposition from Fleyr, who despite losing 3-1 in the first leg, only needed to win the re-match to force a winner-takes-it-all golden set. However, in the end SÍ edged ahead to win the third set 27-25 and a well-deserved Faroese championship title – their fourth in history. Thursday, March 24: SÍ vs Fleyr 3-1 (18-25, 25-14, 25-22, 25-19) |
CEV Small Countries Association 