Champions League: Friedrichshafen down Montpellier in more than 2 hours of play. All easy for Lube
3 min read
Friedrichshafen reach playoffs for first time in 5 years; quarter-final spot also for Lube!
We’ve learned the names of the first two playoff participants in the 2023 CEV Volleyball Champions League.
We got used to seeing one of these two in the knockout stage, but the other one not!
It is VfB Friedrichshafen of Germany, who advanced to the playoffs for the first time since 2018.
Coach Mark Lebedew’s team won Round 5’s match against France’s Montpellier HSC VB 3-2 (28:26, 22:25, 25:23, 23:25, 15:13) on the road in Pool A and, even before the game, the home side’s playoff qualification hopes were dashed, as they had lost all four of their games. However, they wanted to save honor, but despite great resilience, Montpellier again had to surrender. Friedrichshafen will play their final group game in two weeks against the Polish club of Jastrzębski Węgiel, hoping to claim the top spot in the pool.
Slovenian Žiga Štern, who ended the game with 21 points including 4 aces led the Bundesliga team today, while Serb Aleksandar Nedeljković made four blocks.
Théo Faure tallied as many as 32 points for Montpellier.
An European volleyball giant is in the quarterfinals too: Cucine Lube Civitanova, who secured their place in the knockout stage with a clear 0-3 (18:25, 19:25, 18:25) win over Sport Lisboa e Benfica on the road in Portugal in Pool C.
The Italians have won five matches in as many games this season and have only allowed themselves to drop just one point—in the opening game against the same Benfica.
This time the SuperLega titleholders didn’t give nothing to the rivals, who had lost all chances of qualifying for the next stage prior to the match. Puerto Rican-American Gabriel García scored 14 points for Lube, while Argentine Luciano De Cecco served as many as six aces, and Mattia Bottolo had 90% reception (10 digs, 30% excellent).
Finn Aaro Nikula scored 11 points for Benfica, while Ivo Casas was almost perfect in reception, with 95% (20 digs, 60% excellent).
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🏐| 2022/23 CEV Champions League | Pool Stage | Matches of the week
👉🏼 Tuesday | January 10, 2022
POOL A | 19.00 (Local Time) | Montpellier MHSC VB (FRA) – VfB Friedrichshafen (GER) 2-3 (26:28, 25:22, 23:25, 25:23, 13:15)
| Wednesday | January 11, 2022
POOL A | 18.00 (Local Time) | Vojvodina NS Seme Novi Sad (SRB) – Jastrzebski Węgiel (POL) 0-3 (22:25, 16:25, 14:25)
🏐| Standings of Pool A (updated on this day)
1. Jastrzebski Węgiel (POL) 12
2. VfB Friedrichshafen (GER) 10
3. Vojvodina NS Seme Novi Sad (SRB) 3
4. Montpellier MHSC VB (FRA) 2
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| Wednesday | January 11, 2022
POOL B | 19.30 (Local Time) | Halkbank Ankara (TUR) – Aluron CMC Warta Zawiercie (POL) 3-2 (21:25, 25:23, 23:25, 25:23, 19:17)
| Thursday | January 12, 2022
POOL B | 18.00 (Local Time) | Hebar Pazardzhik (BUL) – Berlin Recycling Volleys (GER) 0-3 (20:25, 16:25, 20:25)
🏐| Standings of Pool B (updated on this day)
1. Aluron CMC Warta Zawiercie (POL) 9
2. Halkbank Ankara (TUR) 8
3. Berlin Recycling Volleys (GER) 5
4. Hebar Pazardzhik (BUL) 2
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👉🏼 Tuesday | January 10, 2023
POOL C | 21.00 (Local Time) | Sport Lisboa e Benfica (POR) – Cucine Lube Civitanova (ITA) 0-3 (18:25, 19:25, 18:25)
| Wednesday | January 11, 2023
POOL C | 21.00 (Local Time) | Tours VB (FRA) – Knack Roeselare (BEL) 2-3 (23:25, 24:26, 23:25, 30:28, 9:15)
🏐| Standings of Pool C (updated on this day)
1. Cucine Lube Civitanova (ITA) 14
2. Tours VB (FRA) 6
3. Knack Roeselare (BEL) 5
4. Sport Lisboa e Benfica (POR) 2
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| Wednesday | January 11, 2023
POOL D | 17.00 (Local Time) | ČEZ Karlovarsko (CZE) – Grupa Azoty Kędzierzyn-Kozle (POL) 2-3 (25:23, 21:25, 18:25, 25:23, 13:15)
| Wednesday | January 11, 2023
POOL D | 20.30 (Local Time) | Decospan VT Menen (BEL) – Trentino Itas (ITA) 0-3 (15:25, 19:25, 16:25)
🏐| Standings of Pool D (updated on this day)
1. Trentino Itas (ITA) 12
2. Grupa Azoty Kędzierzyn-Kozle (POL) 9
3. ČEZ Karlovarsko (CZE) 3
4. Decospan VT Menen (BEL) 0
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| Wednesday | January 11, 2023
POOL E | 15.30 (Local Time) | Ziraat Bank Ankara (TUR) – SWS Powervolleys Düren (GER) 3-0 (27:25, 25:21, 25:13)
| Wednesday | January 11, 2023
POOL E | 18.00 (Local Time) | ACH Volley Ljubljana (SLO) – Sir Sicoma Monini Perugia (ITA) 1-3 (21:25, 15:25, 25:23, 15:25)
🏐| Standings of Pool E (updated on this day)
1. Sir Sicoma Monini Perugia (ITA) 12
2. ACH Volley Ljubljana (SLO) 7
3. SWS Powervolleys Düren (GER) 3
4. Ziraat Bank Ankara (TUR) 2
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