Volleyball Continental Leagues 2017 - 2018 Discussion Thread

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TODAY'S RESULTS

 

 

LEG 3

 

 

GROUP B

 PAOK Thesalloniki 2-3  VFB Friedrichshafen

 

GROUP E

 Trentino Diatec 3-0  Arkas Izmir

 

ROUND 1/8, 1st Leg

 Hapoel Mate-Asher Akko 0-3  Belogorie Belgorod

 

ROUND 1/8, 1st Leg

 CSU Steaua Bucarest 2-3  Benfica Lisboa

 

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VfB FRIEDRICHSHAFEN come from behind to keep immaculate record

Luxembourg, January 18, 2018. VfB FRIEDRICHSHAFEN came back from two sets down to pull out a dramatic 3-2 victory in the ‘Match of the Week’ with PAOK THESSALONIKI and improve their record in Pool B of the 2018 CEV Volleyball Champions League – Men to three wins in as many matches. TRENTINO Diatec hosted Arkas IZMIR in the other match scheduled for Thursday night to complete the programme of the third round of action in the pool stage of Europe’s elite club competition as the three-time CL winners stormed to a comprehensive 3-0 victory.

PAOK THESSALONIKI (GRE) vs. VfB FRIEDRICHSHAFEN (GER) 2-3 (25-17, 30-28, 14-25, 17-25, 9-15)

•    Greece’s PAOK THESSALONIKI came close to a most important victory against VfB FRIEDRICHSHAFEN, but the German side prevailed 3-2 in the end.
•    In the first hour, the fans who attended the match at PAOK Sports Arena witnessed one of the best performances of their team this season so far; however, their powerful rivals said the last word and celebrated their third win in as many games in Europe’s elite club competition.
•    The first set proved to be ideal for Daniele Ricci’s players, who put in serious trouble the visitors with their services. Middle blocker Panagiotis Pelekoudas caught the Germans by surprise and scored quite a few points, while debutant Nikolay Uchikov managed to connect immediately with his new teammates. The Bulgarian opposite made it 16-9 thanks to two consecutive ace serve points and there was no turning back, with the difference reaching double digits (24-14) just before Uchikov put the final touch (25-17).
•    The local side took the lead since the beginning of the second set as well, but this was a much closer fight: PAOK knew how to earn some long rally action points, such as those won by Ramon Martinez Gion (8-6) and Rafail Koumentakis (12-9). However, VfB FRIEDRICHSHAFEN always returned and eventually took the lead 22-21 and the first set ball (24-23), thanks to their fast-tempo kills. Nevertheless, it was PAOK to win the set 30-28, after a much-disputed video challenge on Bartlomiej Boladz’s missed attack.
 

•    After a long protest, Vital Heynen found the way for his team to fight back and the German squad showed their skills in set 3, which was theirs from the start. VfB FRIEDRICHSHAFEN reached the first technical time-out with a three-point advantage (8-5), kept their cool when PAOK tried to trim the difference before the second technical and eventually sealed a comfortable 25-14 win, with Andreas Takvam serving an ace and giant Philipp Collin delivering a block.
•    The visitors remained untouchable throughout the fourth set, too, as they took off after the initial PAOK efforts to stay close. Daniele Ricci’s time-out at 11-20 helped his team into a short rally, but nothing really changed, as Collin, Boladz and Jakob Günthör were commanding at the net, the latter one scoring the very last point (25-17).
•    The tiebreak started a PAOK business, as Matthias Valkiers’s serves gave his team an initial 3-0 lead and Koumentakis took it from there and made it 5-1. Nevertheless, Greek outsider hitter Athanasios Protopsaltis drew level for the Germans (7-7), who came in front for the first time at 9-8. The unstoppable Collin established VfB FRIEDRICHSHAFEN ahead on the scoreboard with a smart block (12-9) and Uchikov’s missed spike put the nail in the coffin, as the visitors finished off their rivals with an impressive 6-0 series (15-9).

PAOK head coach, Daniele Ricci, commented after the match: “It is difficult for us to play for a long time at our best level. For about one hour we played well, but then we had problems especially against such an opponent, which might not be so powerful but knows what is necessary to do every time. They think as a team and they do not make mistakes when it is important. If we could play well for a little longer, maybe we would have won tonight.”

On the other hand, the head coach of VfB FRIEDRICHSHAFEN, Vital Heynen, said: “PAOK played really well in the beginning; they served us away and blocked us away in set 1. The second set was a closer one and I think we were getting better and better. We are happy to take the victory and two points against PAOK, since it is not easy to beat them here.”

TRENTINO Diatec (ITA) vs. Arkas IZMIR (TUR) 3-0 (25-22, 26-24, 25-17)

•    TRENTINO Diatec confirmed their positive tradition in matches against Arkas IZMIR: tonight at PalaTrento they achieved the fourth success in four matches versus the Turkish team.
•    The hosting team was extremely good at keeping their opponents under pressure during the first two sets before dominating in the third one.
•    The first 3-0 victory in the Champions League this season allows TRENTINO Diatec to cement their second place in Pool E, just one point off current leaders Zaksa KEDZIERZYN-KOZLE.
•    Best scorer and MVP of the match was the opposite of TRENTINO and of the Italian national team Luca Vettori, who tallied up 19 points with 78% of success rate in attack, three blocks and two aces. Filippo Lanza and Uros Kovacevic finished the match in double digits as well with 14 and 10 points, respectively.
•    The family derby between Nicholas Hoag and his father Glenn did not take place because of a shoulder injury suffered by the outside hitter of TRENTINO, who followed the whole match from the bench.
•    The last one to give up on the Turkish side of the court was their Cuban opposite hitter Michael Sanchez Bozhulev, who scored 14 points, but Arkas struggled a lot at blocking and serving, recording only three blocks and two aces overall.
 

Luca Vettori, player of TRENTINO Diatec: “It was really important to me to play at my best because I definitely had something to make up for after my last performances which were not very good. We played effectively and consistently even from a psychological point of view, and this is the demonstration that hard work always pays off.”

Nikola Jovovic, player of Arkas IZMIR: “We knew since the eve of the match that it would have been a very tough one; for two sets we managed to stand in front of a strong and experienced team like TRENTINO and we have to see this performance as a start point for our future. The Champions League pool in which we ended up is really competitive; we could realistically aim at claiming third place in the group.”

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Belogorie BELGOROD with one leg in #CEVCupM quarterfinals

 

Luxembourg, January 18, 2018. Russian Volleyball giant Belogorie BELGOROD dominate Hapoel MATE-ASHER AKKO 3-0 (25-18, 25-22, 25-20) to get away break.

Russian top squad Belogorie BELGOROD started powerfully into Leg 1 of the #CEVCupM 8th Finals. Even without top star Dmitriy Muserskiy in the starting six, the team from the "White City" were able to put Hapoel MATE-ASHER AKKO under pressure from the very beginning of the game. Gennady Shipulin's squad outclassed the Israelians with an overwhelming offensive power. Two out of three attempts directly resulted into points - an impressive record. Hapoel MATE-ASHER AKKO, on the other hand, tried their best to keep up with the big favourites. Nonetheless, the Russians eventually proved too strong and claimed the opening set 25-18.

In the second set, however, the Russians started to commit too many unforced errors in their own game. But as the hosts were not able to take advantage of the lack in concentration in BELGOROD's game, the visitors still could increase their lead to 2-0.

Belogorie BELGOROD were on a roll now. Hapoel MATE-ASHER AKKO, on the other, did not find an antidote to the Russian offensive game. Thus, the Russian Volleyball giants also clinched the third set to complete a perfect sweep in the away game. Gennady Shipulin's squad are now only one point away of booking their tickets to the #CEVCupM quarterfinals.

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Sport LISBOA e Benfica grind out away break in #CEVChallengeCupM 8th Finals

 

Luxembourg, January 18, 2018. Reigning Portuguese champions Sport LISBOA e Benfica overcome CSA Steaua BUCURESTI 3-2 (21-25, 25-16, 25-17, 20-25, 15-11) to make a big step closer to the #CEVChallengeCupM quarterfinals.

Over 550 Volleyball fans flocked to the "Mihai Viteazul" Hall in Bucharest to witness the big #CEVChallengeCupM clash between the Romanian top squad CSA Steaua BUCURESTI and the reigning Portuguese champions Sport LISBOA e Benfica.

And the hosts did not dash the high expectations of their fans. The team from the Romanian capital started strong into the home game. The hosts convinced with their cold-blooded offence, while outmaneuvering the Portuguese attackers with a impervious defence. As a consequence, CSA Steaua BUCURESTI delighted their home crowd with a 25-21 win in the opening set.

Sport LISBOA e Benfica coach José Antonio Pereira Jardim had to make some major adjustments in the own game. And these changes were crowned with success. Since the Romanian block was not able to stop the Portuguese pipes anymore, Sport LISBOA e Benfica gained momentum and started a scoring spree. CSA Steaua BUCURESTI, on the other hand, committed too many unforced errors in the own game. Thus, the reigning Portuguese titleholders overpowered the hosts as they clinched the two following sets 25-16 and 25-17.

CSA Steaua BUCURESTI were with their backs to the wall - but Bogdan Tanase's squad did not crumble under the pressure. The Romanians all of a sudden found back the rhythm of the first set, while the Portuguese struggled for kills. The home squad delighted their fans in the stands with a 25-20 win in the fourth set to force the game into the tiebreak.

But the Romanians fell back into old patterns. The team from the Romanian capital stumbled over unforced errors in their game. Sport LISBOA e Benfica did not need a second invitation and took advantage of this down to clinch the tiebreak 15-11 and to crown their trip with a victory.

Despite the loss, CSA Steaua BUCURESTI coach Bogdan Tanase did not mope. "It was a tremendous match. We just committed too many unforced errors. Nevertheless, I think we still can make it to the next round as we have already started with the preparations for the second leg."

Sport LISBOA e Benfica coach José Antonio Pereira Jardim was already focusing on the upcoming return game at home. "We served very well; that was a key factor in our game. Nonetheless, we need to play our best Volleyball in the upcoming return game too because the decision will be made in Leg 2."

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MATCH OF THE WEEK HIGHLISTS

 

PAOK Thesaloniki - VFB Friedrichshafen

 

 

 

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CEV CHAMPIONS LEAGUE ROUND ROBIN STANDINGS

after LEG 3 out of 6
 

 Best 2 teams in each group and the best 2 3-rd placed teams will qualify to the play-offs round
 

mw = matches won

ml = matches lost

pts = points

sets = sets won:lost

 

GROUP A

 

Standing	Team Name	MW (3:2)	ML (2:3)	PTS	Sets
1	Sir Safety Perugia	3 (2)	0 (0)	7	9:4
2	Cucine Lube Civitanova	2 (0)	1 (1)	7	8;4
3	Knack Roeselare	1 (0)	2 (1)	4	5:7
4	Fenerbahce Istanbul	0 (0)	3 (0)	0	2:9

GROUP B

 

Standing	Team Name	MW (3:2)	ML (2:3)	PTS	Sets
1	VFB Friedrichshafen	3 (1)	0(0)	8	9:3
2	Halkbank Ankara	2 (0)	1 (0)	6	7:4
3	Ford Store Levoranta Sastamala	1 (1)	2 (0)	2	3:8
4	PAOK Thesaloniki	0 (0)	3 (2)	2	5:9

 

GROUP C
 

Standing	Team Name	MW (3:2)	ML (2:3)	PTS	Sets
1	Lokomotiv Novosibirsk	3 (1)	0 (0)	8	9:2
2	Chaumont VB 52 Haute Marne	2 (1)	1 (1)	6	8:6
3	PGE Skra Belchatow	1 (1)	2 (0)	2	4:8
4	Dinamo Moscow	0 (0)	3 (2)	2	4:9

 

 

GROUP D

 

Standing	Team Name	MW (3:2)	ML (2:3)	PTS	Sets
1	Zenit Kazan	3 (0)	0 (0)	9	9:2
2	Jastrzebski Wegiel	2 (0)	1 (0)	6	6:3
3	Berin Recycling Volleys	1 (0)	2 (0)	3	4:6
4	Spacers Toulouse	0 (0)	3 (0)	0	1:9

 

GROUP E

 

Standing	Team Name	MW (3:2)	ML (2:3)	PTS	Sets
1	Zaksa Kedzierzyn-Kozle	3 (1)	0 (0)	8	9:2
2	Diatec Trentino	2 (0)	1 (1)	7	8:4
3	Noliko Maaseik	1 (1)	2 (0)	2	4:8
4	Arkas Izmir	0 (0)	3 (1)	1	2:9

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TODAY'S SCHEDULE
 

 

LEG 4

 

POOL D

Spacer's Toulouse - Berlin Recycling Volleys

 

POOL E

Noliko Maaseik - Zaksa Kedzierzyn-Kozle

 

ROUND 1/8, 2nd Leg

Belogorie Belgorod - Hapoel Mate-Asher Akko

Arcada Galati - ACH Volley Ljubljana

 

ROUND 1/8, 2nd Leg

Volejbal Brno - Bunge Ravenna

 

 

Watch games at: https://www.laola1.tv/en-int/channel/volleyball

 

 

 

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TODAY'S RESULTS
 

 

LEG 4

 

POOL D

 Spacer's Toulouse 1-3  Berlin Recycling Volleys

 

POOL E

Noliko Maaseik 3-2 Zaksa Kedzierzyn Kozle

 

 

ROUND 1/8, 2nd Leg

 Belogorie Belgorod 3-0  Hapoel Mate-Asher Akko

 Arcada Galati 2-3  ACH Volley Ljubljana

 

Qualified to next Round:

 Belogorie Belgorod

 ACH Volley Ljubljana

 

 

ROUND 1/8, 2nd Leg

 Volejbal Brno 0-3  Bunge Ravenna

 

Qualified to next Round:

 Bunge Ravenna

 

 

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Noliko MASEIK to surprise Zaksa KEDZIERZYN-KOZLE, BERLIN Recycling Volleys without any serious problems vs. Spacer’s TOULOUSE 
2018 CEV Volleyball Champions League - Men 

Luxembourg, January 30, 2018. BERLIN Recycling Volleys and Noliko MAASEIK claimed victories in their matches in the 4th leg in Round 4 of the CEV Volleyball Champions League – Men. The BR Volleys conceded only one set in their away match vs. Spacer’s TOULOUSE and now have two wins and two losses to their name in Pool D. The other match between Noliko MAASEIK and Zaksa KEDZIERZYN-KOZLE was a real volleyball thriller, with both teams constantly exchanging the leadership. Eventually, Noliko took the win by 3-2, grabbing this way a second victory in Pool E, while this was the first loss for Zaksa KEDZIERZYN-KOZLE.

Spacer’s TOULOUSE VB (FRA) vs. BERLIN Recycling Volleys (GER) 1-3 (20-25, 25-15, 23-25, 18-25)

 •    BERLIN Recycling Volleys managed to open the match by winning the first set by 25-20. Thanks to a better play in block and defense, and to an impressive service series at the beginning of the match, the visitors took the lead by 8-2. However, Spacer’s TOULOUSE's setter Dimitri Walgenwitz started to play with the middle blockers and it seemed that the French team were about to turn the result in their favour. Nevertheless, the players around head coach Luke Reynolds took back control of the game and closed it by 25-20.
•    Spacer’s TOULOUSE opened the second set with two consecutive aces by Nicolas Burel. The good opening of this part of the match forced the visiting team to take a time-out by the score of 4-1. However, Spacer’s TOULOUSE kept on the winning track, pressuring their opponents with good service and again some good blocks.  Bram Van den Dries suffered an injury, but despite that problem he continued performing at highest level possible. Luka Basic from Spacer’s TOULOUSE managed to close this part of the match by 25-15, having recorded his third block in the match. 
•    In the beginning of the third set Spacer's TOULOUSE took the lead and by the time of the first technical time-out the score was 8-6 for the hosts.  Aleksandar Okolic from BERLIN Recycling Volleys then found a proper reaction to the situation and with three consecutive blocks gave the leadership in the set back to his team. The hosts from Spacer’s TOULOUSE seemed to have lost a bit of concentration and made too many mistakes, especially in spiking.  More than 2,000 spectators in the sports hall in Toulouse were cheering up for their favourites and this gave the French team wings to fly - they scored four straight points to make the result 19-22, coming closer to their opponents. However, the team from Berlin managed to keep calm and won this part by 25-23. 
•    In the fourth set, the BR Volleys controlled the game, mostly thanks to their good service and by avoiding errors. Although the hosts from Spacer’s gave their best, they couldn’t make a comeback in the match and the visitors closed this part by 25-18, claiming this way the victory by 3-1.

 

 

Dimitri Walgenwitz, setter of Spacer’s TOULOUSE : “Despite the loss, there was a good atmosphere in the Palais des Sports "André Brouat". We were playing in front of more than 2,000 fans, who were supporting us. Of course, I am not happy to lose 1-3, but considering our situation with many injured players, it was difficult to make substitutions as the coach would want to, so I think we gave off what we could. Tonight, the Spacer’s team showed a fighting spirit against the BR Volleys."

Pierre Pujol, setter of BERLIN Recycling Volleys: "Our aim tonight was keeping alive the possibility to play for a spot in the Playoffs against JASTRZEBSKI Wegiel at home, so it was important to get the three points. We suffered from a lack of concentration in the second set. Spacer’s TOULOUSE took the best from this situation, won the set and the match became more complicated. During the third set the two teams delivered many long rallies, until  we managed to come out on top at 25-23." 

Noliko MAASEIK (BEL) vs. Zaksa KEDZIERZYN-KOZLE (POL) 3-2 (26-24, 24-26, 25-20, 22-25, 17-15)

•    After  two hours, some 2,150 fans in Maaseik’s Steengoed Arena had witnessed an incredibly tight game, and as a consequence it went to a tiebreak: 26-24, 24-26, 25-20, 22-25.
•    Timo Tammemaa’s block and Nicolas Bruno’s spikes offered Noliko an early 8-4 lead in the tiebreak, but Sam Deroo didn’t want to lose in his home country and dragged his side over from 8-7 to 12-13. Jolan Cox and Jay Michael Blankenau claimed two match points for MAASEIK. Zaksa replied, in vain. Tammemaa’s serve right in the corner finished a tremendous game: 17-15.
•    Jolan Cox topped the charts with an amazing tally of 32 points, of which four aces. Tammemaa’s ace proved to be the decisive one. Sam Deroo was best scorer for Zaksa with 24.
•    It’s the first time Noliko MAASEIK post two victories in the group stage of the Champions League since 2014.
•  This was Noliko’s first victory against a Polish team in seven years. However, their 3-0 win against JASTRZEBSKI Wegiel was overshadowed by a 15-17 loss in the Golden Set. The last real triumph against a Polish opponent dates back to 2008 against AZS CZESTOCHOWA: 3-1.

Jolan Cox, opposite hitter of Noliko MAASEIK: “Fighting, fighting, fighting, that was the recipe for this win. If you can keep up with a  team like Zaksa, chances will come. And we took them. If we can keep up this level, everything is possible in the two games to come.” 

Sam Deroo, outside hitter of Zaksa KEDZIERZYN-KOZLE: “Yes, we are a little surprised by the level MAASEIK showed today. Especially in defence and on the high attacks, they showed a higher level than we expected. And maybe, after two defeats, we were mentally not at our best since we are not really used to lose a lot.”

 

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Belogorie, ACH Volley advance to CEV Cup quarterfinals 

 

Luxembourg, January 30, 2018.  The first two participants in the 4th Finals of the 2018 CEV Volleyball Cup - Men emerged on Tuesday. Slovenia’s ACH Volley LJUBLJANA and Russia’s Belogorie BELGOROD scored their second victories over their opponents in the 8th Finals, Israel’s Hapoel MATE-ASHER AKKO and Romania’s C.S. Arcada GALATI, respectively, to book their spots among the best eight in the competition.

Here the full results and the match reports:



Belogorie BELGOROD (RUS) vs. Hapoel MATE-ASHER AKKO (ISR) 3-0 (25-21, 25-17, 25-18)



•    At home in Russia, in front of 1,900 spectators, Belogorie BELGOROD claimed their second straight-set victory over Hapoel MATE-ASHER AKKO after shutting them out in the first leg in Israel as well.
•    Hapoel recovered from a four-point deficit in the first set to tie the score at 14-14. After 18-18, Belogorie regained control to close the set at 25-21.
•    Great blocking by Nikolay Nikolov and his teammates kept the home guys in the lead throughout the second set and they stamped their ticket to the next round with a 25-17 win.
•    Hapoel took an early lead in the third set, but after 6-6 it was once again all about the Russian team. Nikolov performed at 100% in spiking to lead Belogorie to a 25-18 close.
•    Middle blocker Nikolay Nikolov was the best scorer of the match with 12 points (7 spikes, 5 blocks). His teammate Konstantin Bakun aced three times on the way to reaching the 11-point mark.
•    In the quarterfinals, Belogorie BELGOROD will face Slovenia’s ACH Volley LJUBLJANA. The Russian club will host the first-leg encounter between 13 and 15 of February.

Sergey Tetyukhin, captain of Belogorie BELGOROD: “We are happy to complete our mission to proceed to the next stage. There were some moments of fear, like in the recent match of the national championship, but the goal was to win at least two sets and then give a chance to those players who do not get much time on the court.”

Alexander Osokin, captain of Hapoel MATE-ASHER AKKO: “We are not so upset to lose both matches as Belogorie are one of the top five teams in the world. The fact that we played in the 8th Finals was a good achievement for us. And of course the matches against Belogorie are a great experience for us.”

C.S. Arcada GALATI (ROU) vs. ACH Volley LJUBLJANA (SLO) 2-3 (24-26, 25-19, 25-21, 19-25, 13-15)



•    C.S. Arcada GALATI wasted an eight-point lead to lose the first set by a narrow 24-26.
•    Keeping up their good blocking efforts, the Romanians won the next two sets.
•    By winning the fourth set, ACH Volley LJUBLJANA secured their spot in the quarterfinals.
•  Arcada’s Adrian Radu Gontariu and ACH Volley’s Matej Kok topped the scorers’ charts with 21 and 20 points, respectively.
•    In a duel for a place in the semifinals, the Slovenian team will measure up to Russia’s Belogorie BELGOROD.

Zoran Kedacic, coach of ACH Volley LJUBLJANA: “It was not as easy as the smooth victory we claimed at home two weeks ago. The Romanians were very much alive today, but we managed to make an incredible turnaround in the first set after a really tough fight. Then we made too many mistakes in the next two sets. Changes in the fourth and fifth sets were the key, which is another indication that we have a long and high-quality bench. I am proud of the guys and I would like to congratulate the club for another historic achievement! It does not happen often enough to rank among the top eight in a strong European club competition.”