Kazan, Russia, November 15, 2011. Five players of Zenit KAZAN – together with head coach Vladimir Alekno – will be defending Russia’s honor at the upcoming FIVB World Cup in Japan, while Zenit captain Reid Priddy will be there as well to represent the US American national team.
The backbones of the Russian national team are evidently the clubs of Zenit KAZAN and Belogorie BELGOROD. In his final group for the FIVB World Cup head coach Vladimir Alekno included five players from his own club. These are middle-blockers Alexander Volkov and Nikolay Apalikov, spikers Maxim Mikhaylov and Evgeny Sivozhelez plus libero Alexey Obmochaev. In Japan Obmochaev will make his debut with the senior national team.
“Alexey is a talented guy” says Alekno. “He should be given a chance. In addition the tournament is very long. To play 11 matches over 15 days always with the same line-up is almost impossible”.
The tournament in the country of the rising sun begins this November 20 with a game against the Italians, silver medalists from the 2011 European Championship, before Russia plays the USA two days later.
Assistant coach Alexander Serebrennikov will take care of the players who have stayed in Kazan and continue the preparations for the re-start of the Russian Championship scheduled for December 11 and where Zenit tops the standings with five wins in as many matches played so far.