Champions League: Roeselare kick out Friedrichshafen from quarterfinal battle, Zaksa keep perfect record!
3 min read
Knack Roeselare made a huge step towards advancing to the quarterfinals of the 2020 CEV Volleyball Champions League by beating VfB Friedrichshafen in four sets (28:26, 26:28, 25:19, 25:17).
In the direct duel for the 2nd place in Pool E, Belgians once again proved too strong for the team from Germany (beat them in Round 1 by a 3-0 as well). These 2 teams were tied in Pool E standings at 5 points prior to the match so it was do-or-die encounter for both to secure a position in the top 3 of the overall ranking of the best runners-up that will reach quarterfinals along with pool winners. Roeselare are now among the top 3 runners-up but their main contenders for a Playoff berth are yet to play their Round 5 matches. Hendrik Tuerlinckx was the top scorer for the winners with 12 points.
Reactions:
Jakub Janouch, setter of VfB FRIEDRICHSHAFEN: “We had some chances but lost the first set because the home team put a lot of pressure with their services. We were not focussed enough after the second set. I do not know what happened but we lost the flow we were in, whilst the home team played very well in block and defence. This European campaign finishes now for us. Next week we meet Zaksa and we will use that match to be prepared for our own Bundesliga.”
Brett Walsh, setter of Knack ROESELARE: “We took a bad start with too many serve errors. We had difficulties to bring our regular play but started playing better in set three and four. We created better opportunities in attack and scored a lot in block and service. In sets 3 and 4, we controlled the game completely. Now we look forward to the match against Novi Sad next week.”
In the other match, Polish champions Zaksa KÄdzierzyn-KoÅŗle (already progressed to the quarterfinals) kept the perfect record in this pool after beating Serbian side Vojvodina NS Seme Novi Sad in straight sets. So, Zaksa remained the only team that didnāt concede a single set, so far: 15-0!
Reactions:
Sinisa Gavrancic, Novi Sad’s head coach: “Zaksa is a better team than we are, but I think we could have a little more resistance to give, and we had chances in the second set.”
Nikola Grbic, Zaksa’s head coach: “We had already made it to the quarterfinals, so it was hard to focus and play as much as possible from start to finish. But we won and we are satisfied.”
2020 CEV Volleyball Champions League ā Round 5
POOL A
February 13
ā¢ Itas TRENTINO – Cucine Lube CIVITANOVA 1-3 (26:24, 29:31, 17:25, 22:25)
ā¢ Jihostroj CESKE BUDEJOVICE – FenerbahƧe HDI Sigorta ISTANBUL 3-0 (25:23, 25:23, 25:21)
POOL B
February 12
ā¢ Fakel NOVY URENGOY – Kuzbass KEMEROVO 3-0 (25:21, 25:16, 25:20)
ā¢ ACH Volley LJUBLJANA – BERLIN Recycling Volleys 2-3 (25:22, 25:19, 16:25, 22:25, 12:15
POOL C
February 12
ā¢ JASTRZEBSKI Wegiel – Zenit KAZAN 3-1 (25:18, 30:28, 19:25, 25:23)
ā¢ VC Greenyard MAASEIK – Halkbank ANKARA 3-1 (25:22, 34:36, 25:21, 25:18)
POOL D
February 13
ā¢ Benfica LISBOA – Sir Sicoma Monini PERUGIA 1-3 (24:26, 21:25, 25:22, 17:25)
February 12
ā¢ TOURS VB – Verva WARSZAWA Orlen Paliwa 3-0 (25:21, 25:21, 25:20)
POOL E
February 11
ā¢ Vojvodina NS Seme NOVI SAD – Zaksa KEDZIERZYN-KOZLE 3-0 (11:25, 22:25, 18:25)
ā¢ Knack ROESELARE – VfB FRIEDRICHSHAFEN 3-1 (28:26, 26:28, 25:19, 25:17)
Source and Photos: CEV
