27/01/2016 21:07
Allianz MTV STUTTGART upset another Azeri team to stay in contention for spot in CEV Cup Challenge Round
2016 CEV DenizBank Volleyball Champions League – Women
Stuttgart, Germany, January 27, 2016. Let the European campaign go on! Rookies Allianz MTV STUTTGART may continue their European journey this season following their first appearance in the elite CEV DenizBank Volleyball Champions League – Women after on Wednesday night they claimed their second home victory in Pool A, this time edging Azerrail BAKU by 3-0 (25-21, 25-23, 25-22), to stay in contention for a spot in the Challenge Round of the 2016 CEV Volleyball Cup.
1,300 supporters of Germany’s vice champions and last year’s national cup winners in attendance at SCHARRena cheered on the totally relaxed hosts who performed without any pressure but with a great spirit for the game.
“We owe a lot to the fans and a victory like this is good for both the mind and the body,” said Guillermo Naranjo Hernandez, the Spanish-born coach of Allianz MTV STUTTGART with a big smile in his face. “We did our job, now we have to wait and see.”
Kaja Grobelna, STUTTGART’s Belgian national team player, scored 20 points on Wednesday night and smiled: “This win gives a big boost.” She was the top scorer, best spiker and best server of the match, and now waits to have the CEV open a new category for the happiest big smile in her face.
The teams from BAKU probably have learned to be afraid of SCHARRena, STUTTGART’s home base. Last December it was Lokomotiv BAKU that lost 3-1 in this unique sports hall built underneath the stands of a huge soccer stadium. Back then Lokomotiv had come as the leaders in the Super League of Azerbaijan and so did Azerrail BAKU on Wednesday. And again there was a team from Baku who had to leave Stuttgart without any points. So Azeryol BAKU, who is already qualified for the Challenge Round of the CEV Volleyball Cup, should be warned, in case the Drawing of Lots on Thursday, January 28, will pick Allianz MTV STUTTGART as their next opponent.
Kim Renkema, Allianz MTV STUTTGART team captain, said: “Although we are tired from the tight schedule with so many games in our bones, tonight we had no pressure at all. We just wanted to have some fun while performing on the court. And the win is very important for our minds.”
Bülent Karslioglu, the Turkish-born coach of Azerrail BAKU, commented: “It is obvious that we didn‘t play very well. We tried a lot of different solutions, but it just did not work.”
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