JERUSALEM, Jan. 11 (Xinhua) -- German side VfB Suhl Thuringen achieved a 3-1 (21-25, 25-15, 25-16, 25-14) win away to Israeli champions Maccabi Haifa in the women's European Volleyball Confederation (CEV) Challenge Cup on Wednesday evening.
The second leg will take place in Suhl, Germany, with the aggregate winner qualifying for the quarterfinals and facing either Spain's Avarca de Menorca or VK Prostejov of the Czech Republic.
Played at the Romema Arena in Haifa, the first set was dominated by the hosts thanks to points by Briana Holman.
However, Julia Brown and Danielle Harbin inspired the German side to take the next two sets before Juliette Fidon-Lebleu led Suhl to secure their victory.
Harbin contributed a team-high 20 points, while Brown and Fidon-Lebleu added 18 each for the winners. Katarina Pilepic contributed a match-high 21 points for Haifa. ■
