JERUSALEM, Nov. 8 (Xinhua) -- Israeli State Cup holder Hapoel Mate-Asher Akko beat Ukrainian champion SC Prometey Dnipro at home 3-1 (25-16, 25-21, 21-25, 25-20) in the main phase of the European Volleyball Confederation (CEV) Challenge Cup on Tuesday evening.
The Israeli team dominated the first two sets thanks to points by Evgeniy Bannov, Ilay Haver, and Alexander Osokin.
Dmytro Shapoval inspired the visitors to get back into the match in the third set, but Haver and Bannov led Mate-Asher to secure victory in the fourth set.
Bannov contributed game-high 20 points for the hosts, with Osokin adding 13 more. Shapoval finished with 19 points for Prometey.
The match was held at the northern Naaman Sports Hall, where the second-leg match will also be played on Thursday.
The winner on aggregate will next play Romania's Steaua Bucuresti or Finland's Kokkolan Tiikerit. ■
