19/12/2016 09:00
Fakel NOVY URENGOY set sights on spot in Challenge Cup Round of 16
2017 CEV Volleyball Challenge Cup - Men
Novy Urengoy, Russia, December 19, 2016. Fakel NOVY URENGOY will be hosting Shakhtior SOLIGORSK of Belarus on Tuesday, December 20 for their re-match on schedule for the 16th Finals of the 2017 CEV Volleyball Challenge Cup – Men. Shakhtior will try to bounce back from their home defeat in Mogilev two weeks ago whereas the 2016 Challenge Cup silver medallists are hoping to use the home-court advantage to capitalise on their away victory and comfortably move on to the next round.
As many as 1,500 fans are expected to attend the matchup between Fakel and Shakhtior at Sport Palace Zvezdniy. The home side will not be able to count on one of their best players, outside spiker Dmitrii Volkov, who is still injured, but Ilia Vlasov is coming back after undergoing a knee surgery though it remains to be seen if he will eventually be able to play.
Fakel will chiefly rely on their experienced captain and setter Igor Kolodinsky as well as on 2016 Rio Olympian Egor Kliuka, one of Russia’s rising Volleyball stars. However, as the previous match has shown, Shakhtior are very good at defence and the players of Fakel will have to work hard in order to score and take home the points they need. Two sets won will be enough for NOVY URENGOY to secure their progression to the 1/8 finals whereas Shakhtior have to win by 3-0 or 3-1 to go for an all-deciding golden set.
“Our task is to take the trophy of this year’s Challenge Cup to Novy Urengoy and we will leave no stone unturned in order to achieve this goal,” said Fakel NOVY URENGOY coach Igor Chutchev. “I am sure that the fans can expect an interesting match and we will be trying to provide them with something to cheer about with our performance.”
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