Rapid Bucuresti Women Edged by CSM Constanta in Five-Set Thriller

CSM Constanta Women emerged victorious from a nail-biting Divizia A1 Women encounter against Rapid Bucuresti Women, winning 3-2 (25-22, 22-25, 25-20, 20-25, 15-13) in front of a raucous crowd at the Rapid Sports Hall on October 28, 2026. The match swung one way and then the other before Constanta held their nerve in the decisive fifth set.

The contest was a showcase of Romanian volleyball at its best: powerful hitting, desperate defense, and tactical adjustments that kept fans on the edge of their seats for over two hours.

Set-by-Set

First set: Rapid started strongly, riding the energy of the home crowd to an early lead. Outside hitter Ioana Stan was unstoppable, scoring six points in the opening set. Constanta fought back to level at 20-20, but Rapid’s block tightened, and they took it 25-22.

Second set: Constanta responded with purpose. Their setter, Mihaela Dinu, varied the attack brilliantly, involving the middles and finding gaps in Rapid’s defense. A late ace from opposite Alina Cojocaru sealed the set 25-22 for the visitors.

Third set: Constanta carried the momentum, racing to an 18-12 lead. Rapid’s coach called a timeout to no avail; Constanta’s blocking was impenetrable, and they closed it 25-20.

Fourth set: Facing elimination, Rapid produced a stirring comeback. Substitute outside hitter Andreea Marin injected energy, and her serving run gave Rapid a 20-15 lead. They held on to force a fifth set, 25-20.

Fifth set: The drama reached its peak. The teams traded points until 13-13. A disputed net touch gave Constanta a match point, and captain Dinu converted with a clever dump shot. Constanta won 15-13.

Turning Points

The match turned on two moments: first, Constanta’s dominant third set, which established their authority; second, their resilience in the fifth set after Rapid had seized the momentum. A crucial substitution by Constanta’s coach, bringing in defensive specialist Cristina Vlad, stabilized their reception in the final set.

Standout Performances

• Ioana Stan (Rapid): 24 points (22 kills, 2 blocks) – a tireless performance.
• Alina Cojocaru (Constanta): 19 points, including 3 aces, and several crucial kills in the fifth.
• Mihaela Dinu (Constanta): 5 blocks and a match-high 52 assists.
• Andreea Marin (Rapid): 10 points off the bench, sparking the fourth-set revival.

Table Impact

The win lifts CSM Constanta into the upper half of the Divizia A1 Women standings, keeping their playoff hopes alive. Rapid, despite the loss, showed character and will take confidence from pushing a strong side to five sets. With the season still young, both teams remain in contention for the top spots.