Champions League: Lube Civitanova and Itas Trentino qualify for quarterfinals, Lokomotiv Novosibirsk and Kuzbass Kemerovo say goodbye
7 min read
Defending Champions League champions gave only one set to the French Tours VB in the opening match of the second tournament in Pool B in Perugia, Italy, and with this four sets victory, secure their place at the Quarterfinals of Europe’s elite competition. With 5 wins out of 5 matches so far, Lube can enjoy proceeding ahead in the competition. Italian powerhouse finished the match with 54% efficiency in attack, and Yoandy Leal Hidalgo was named MVP with 16 points, the same number of his teammate Osmany Juantorena. For TOURS VB, Zouheir El Graoui scored 14 points.
“It wasn’t an easy match, we started on the wrong foot in the first set. Luckily, we could find our rhythm afterwards, we showed some patience and determination. Of course, we are very happy with the victory, which brings us closer to the next stage. Tomorrow, we face Perugia, and our aim is to maintain the first place in the group ”
Andrea Marchisio, libero of Cucine Lube Civitanova
“We are very happy! We are closer to the next phase, but the match against Perugia will be very important to us, as we want to finish first in the Pool.”
Robertlandy Simon, middle-blocker of Cucine Lube Civitanova
“ToursVB showed some great skills in the first set. On the other, we were able to find ourselves as the match was unfolding. We are happy that we played our game and took the three points“.
Luciano De Cecco, setter of Cucine Lube Civitanova
“We were performing at our highest level in the first set, we put pressure on Civitanova. After first set, we let many errors happen. I am anyway proud of my players who have played and fought against the great team of Lube“
Hubert Henno, Head coach of Tours VB
Tomorrow the italian derby between Sir Sicoma Monini Perugia and Cucine Lube Civitanova, starting at 18.00 CET.
Berlin Recycling Volleys beats ACH Volley Ljubljana in straight sets in their second encounter in Pool C. Berlin who approached the match with a second position in the table with 9 points, remain in this place trailing behind Zenit Kazan with a small set ratio difference, while ACH Volley Ljubljana keep the third position with just 6 points and will be facing a tough challenge on Thursday, playing tournament hosts and Pool leaders after the first leg, Zenit Kazan. Interstingly, It was the first time Berlin Recycling Volleys played in front of spectators since their first home game in German Bundesliga four months ago!
Anton Brehme was one of the best players in the match, scoring 12 points, including four aces, while his team-mate Brazilian middle blocker Renan Michelucci also showed an amazing performance, scoring 11 points within 100% attack efficiency and including 4 blocks. Russian setter Sergey Grankin found the perfect mix by distributing the balls to his teammates, as 5 players scored double-digit in just three sets (Brehme 12; Carle, Patch and Michelucci 11; Tuia 10 points)
Mitar Tzourits and Jan Pokersnik (with 65% efficiency in attack) were among three top scorers of the match as they scored 12 points each on the other side of the net, with the latter
“This victory was so important. We felt the spirit of our fans from far away and it was nice to play in front of some spectators. We had a good day, showed a good game and now we go to take rest to prepare for Kazan tomorrow.”
Benjamin Patch, opposite of Berlin Recycling Volleys
“I am very happy and satisfied with our performance. Today we, as a team, played on a high level. Maybe it was the best match we showed up this season. Finally, my service was running this time – as for the whole team. Now we are looking forward to compete against Kazan.”
Anton Brehme, middle blocker of Berlin Recycling Volleys
“Almost everything went wrong for us, I’m not a very happy guy at the moment. We didn’t do “zero” on serve, so we had plan to push Berlin away from the net but we didn’t do that. They did that to us. We didn’t do any damage in block, we blocked only twice and had a couple of good touches – they blocked us nine times and serves us eight aces, so it’s hard to play against Berlin. Their game and tactics are not good for us – let’s say it that way, but I expected more and I’m really disappointed.”
Matija Plesko, coach of ACH Volley Ljubljana
With today’s 3-point worth victories over Russia’s Kuzbass Kemerovo and Belgium’s Knack Roeselare, respectively, Italy’s Leo Shoes Modena and Poland’s Verva Warszawa Orlen Paliwa remained the only contenders to qualify for the quarterfinals from Pool D.
Verva Warszawa Orlen Paliwa defeats Knack Roeselare in four sets. Middle-blocker Piotr Nowakowski was the best scorer of the game with 18 points, including 6 blocks, while Matthijs Verhanneman and Rune Fasteland scored 13 each for Roeselare.
“We started the game wrong. In the second set, however, we woke up and played well. In the third and fourth sets, our advantage was visible. We are happy and we are waiting for tomorrow’s game against Leo Shoes Modena.”
Igor Grobelny, outside hitter of Verva Warszawa Orlen Paliwa
“Knack Roeselare played much better than in Belgium. It was a difficult game for us. Fortunately, we won and we can think about the next matches. We came here to qualify for the quarter-finals of the CEV Champions League and we will do our best.”
Ángel Trinidad de Haro, setter of Verva Warszawa Orlen Paliwa
On the other match of Pool D, the only one without any forfait, Pool hosts Leo Shoes Modena defeated Kuzbass Kemerovo in straight sets, with an amazing performance of Luca Vettori especially in the opening set, when he scored 8 points. Daniele Lavia was the best scorer of the match with 15 points with 64% of success in attack and 57% of positive receptions, while Ivan Zaytsev was the top scorer of Kemerovo with 11 points. Leo Shoes Modena stay undefeated leader of Pool D with four wins and 11 points, once Kuzbass Kemerovo is ranked 3rd with two wins and two defeats and 3 points.
“Tonight we played an incredible match. This result against Kemerovo is important for us because if tomorrow we win against Warszawa we’ll be qualified to the quarterfinals. What are my thoughts about the match? I think the most important thing is that tonight we showed a good volleyball, we played very well, we are still unbeaten and I’m proud of my team.”
Andrea Giani, head coach of Leo Shoes Modena
“I think that today Modena taught us a lesson on how we need to play volleyball in the future. The games against Italian teams showed us that we need to improve a lot. The speed Italian setters and spikers usually play with; the style of their game is a bit much for us. For example, we’re always 1 second late to react to their set, attack or a serve. We need to analyze this situation, we need to improve a lot…and I think we need to work on that to become better.”
Alexey Verbov, head coach of Kuzbass Kemerovo
In Pool E, the Italian Powerhouse Itas Trentino opened their campaign in the second tournament with a straight-sets victory over the Russian giant of Lokomotiv Novosibirsk. The winners dominated completely the action on the field, and led by top scorer and MVP Nimir Abdel-Aziz (17 points) closed the match in their favour for only 75 minutes. Trentino finished the match with 8 blocks, 7 aces and 54% efficiency in attack, being the better play on serve the key to the success. For Lokomotiv, Drazen Luburic scored 13 times, while Marko Ivovic also contributed with 10 points.
| POOL B | Tournament in Perugia – Ita
| February 9
• Arkas Izmir (TUR) – Sir Safety Perugia (ITA) 0-3 (forfait)
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• Cucine Lube Civitanova (ITA) – Tours VB (FRA) 3-1 (22:25, 25:20, 25:21, 25:15)
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| February 10
• Sir Safety Perugia (ITA) – Cucine Lube Civitanova (ITA) 3-0 (25:21, 25:18, 25:21)
• Tours VB (FRA) – Arkas Izmir (TUR) 3-0 (forfait)
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| February 11
• Cucine Lube Civitanova (ITA) – Arkas Izmir (TUR) 3-0 (forfait)
• Tours VB (FRA) – Sir Safety Perugia (ITA) 1-3 (25:18, 15:25, 14:25, 21:25)
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| POOL C | Tournament in Kazan – Rus
| February 9
• ACH Volley Ljubljana (SLO) – Berlin Recycling Volleys (GER) 0-3 (19:25, 20:25, 13:25)
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• Jastrzebski Wegiel (POL) – Zenit Kazan (RUS) 0-3 (forfait)
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| February 10
• Berlin Recycling Volleys (GER) – Zenit Kazan (RUS) 0-3 (18:25, 16:25, 14:25)
• ACH Volley Ljubljana (SLO) – Jastrzebski Wegiel (POL) 3-0 (forfait)
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| February 11
• Zenit Kazan (RUS) – ACH Volley Ljubljana (SLO) 3-1 (25:21, 20:25, 25:20, 25:20)
• Berlin Recycling Volleys (GER) – Jastrzebski Wegiel (POL) 3-0 (forfait)
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| POOL D | Tournament in Modena – Ita
| February 9
• Knack Roeselare (BEL) – Verva Warszawa Orlen Paliwa (POL) 1-3 (25:20, 19:25, 20:25, 18:25)
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• Kuzbass Kemerovo (RUS) – Leo Shoes Modena (ITA) 0-3 (22:25, 15:25, 21:25)
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| February 10
• Verva Warszawa Orlen Paliwa (POL) – Leo Shoes Modena (ITA) 3-2 (20:25, 27:25, 22:25, 25:18, 15:10)
• Knack Roeselare (BEL) – Kuzbass Kemerovo (RUS) 3-1 (18:25, 25:20, 25:20, 25:17)
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| February 11
• Leo Shoes Modena (ITA) – Knack Roeselare (BEL) 0-3 (22:25, 21:25, 22:25)
• Verva Warszawa Orlen Paliwa (POL) – Kuzbass Kemerovo (RUS) 2-3 (23:25, 25:21, 18:25, 25:19, 5:15)
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| POOL E | Tournament in Friedrichshafen – Ger
| February 9
• ČEZ Karlovarsko (CZE) – VfB Friedrichshafen (GER) 3-0 (forfait)
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• Itas Trentino (ITA) – Lokomotiv Novosibirsk (RUS) 3-0 (25:19, 25:20, 25:15)
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| February 10
• VfB Friedrichshafen (GER) – Lokomotiv Novosibirsk (RUS) 0-3 (forfait)
• ČEZ Karlovarsko (CZE) – Itas Trentino (ITA) 1-3 (22:25, 25:23, 20:25, 22:25)
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| February 11
• Lokomotiv Novosibirsk (RUS) – ČEZ Karlovarsko (CZE) 3-2 (25:20, 29:31, 27:29, 25:23, 15:13)
• VfB Friedrichshafen (GER) – Itas Trentino (ITA) 0-3 (forfait)
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Source And Photos: CEV
