08/02/2015 23:53
Halkbank’s middle blockers hope to avenge last year’s loss to Russian Lions
2015 CEV DenizBank Volleyball Champions League - Men
Ankara, Turkey, February 8, 2015. Halkbank ANKARA – the only team from Turkey still in the race for glory in this year’s men’s CEV DenizBank Volleyball Champions League – will be playing Russia’s giants Belogorie BELGOROD on Tuesday for the first round of the Playoffs 12 in a game which is also a remake of last year’s final match played at Baskent Volleyball Hall. The match is scheduled for Tuesday, February 10, before the return game follows on February 17 in Russia. Some 48 hours before the ‘big match’ with the Russian giants, two middle blockers of Halkbank – Marcin Mozdzonek and Faik Samed Günes (pictured) – share their feelings and expectations.
Günes – the youngest player on the roster of Halkbank, at 21 years of age – still has memories from last year’s final that Halkbank eventually lost to Belogorie in four sets. “We want to avenge our loss from last year, that is for sure,” he says. “There is some work that has to be done and we want to get it finished in the best way. We know very well that at this stage of the competition we are playing a very strong opponent but we also have quite a strong armada. We lost only one match so far this season and we also have some world-class players on our team. We trust each other and the team spirit is another strength we can rely on.”
The young middle blocker adds: “I have been playing Volleyball for eight years now and spent the last five seasons with Halkbank. As I have been training and playing matches with some of the world’s best players, I could develop both technically and mentally. Just as an example, I have learned a lot from Marcin Mozdzonek and Tsvetan Sokolov to improve my skills at blocking and spiking, respectively. Osmany Juantorena is also supporting me and providing advice on what to do. Can Ayvazoglu and Nuri Sahin also share their experiences with me; I am very lucky to have the opportunity to be with them.”
Marcin Mozdzonek adds: “When I think about the upcoming match with Belogorie, I think that this is a great opportunity for our club to avenge last year’s loss in the final match. Things can be different than last year where Halkbank played Belogorie in the last stage of the competition. Though it is not going to be easy, I trust my team and I am confident that we can make it happen. It is going to be a world-class match. I think that the strongest point of Belogorie is their serve. When they serve well, they play very good. If we can keep our reception at a high level, the match could be played at equal terms. We also have to show good blocking, because this is a Russian team and if they pass easily through, they get stronger and stronger. However, when they are blocked, they get nervous and they stop playing at the level they are used to perform.”
|