27/02/2018 09:38
Two eagerly anticipated derbies to decide top spots in #CLVolleyW Pools B and D
2018 CEV Volleyball Champions League - Women
Luxembourg, February 27, 2018. The group stage of the 2018 CEV Volleyball Champions League – Women reaches its climax on Tuesday with the last round of action and as many as eight matches across four pools. Two derbies – an Italian and a Turkish one – will determine who eventually comes out on top in Pool B and D, respectively with Igor Gorgonzola NOVARA hoping to use the home-court advantage as they add another chapter to their long rivalry with Imoco Volley CONEGLIANO. Titleholders VakifBank ISTANBUL have swept five matches in a row but Galatasaray SK ISTANBUL will be hoping to claim their fifth straight victory to claim first place in Pool D. CSM Volei Alba BLAJ of Romania and Dinamo KAZAN of Russia have already secured the top spot in Pool A and C, respectively. The first placed teams from each pool plus the two runners-up with the best results will progress to the Playoffs 6. The third-best side among the runners-up will replace the organisers of the Final Four, with the CEV due to make the relevant announcement on Friday shortly before the Drawing of Lots for the next stage of the competition.
Pool A
Volero ZÜRICH (SUI) vs. CSM Volei Alba BLAJ (ROU)
• After a shaky start to the competition, with two straight losses, Volero are still in contention for a spot in the Playoffs 6.
• CSM Volei Alba BLAJ, on the other hand, have been the real sensation of the competition this far with an immaculate record of five wins in as many matches to secure first place in Pool A.
• Their Cuban opposite hitter Ana Cleger is by far the top scorer of the League Round with an impressive tally of 131 points, 29 clear of the second-best scorer in the competition, Zhu Ting of VakifBank ISTANBUL.
Alexandra Lazic, player of Volero: “We obviously want to win this match and progress to the next stage of this competition, so we do feel the pressure but it is better that we keep calm and we perform at the level we have been showing lately. If we do so, I am sure that everything will be fine. We have improved our defence and blocking game and this is what is making the difference compared to what we did earlier this season. We have more options in attack and I think we are more complete as a team than before. We won the last three matches even without Rosir Kalderon [she is currently injured], who is a very important player for us as she can score many points, but this speaks for the multiple options we have right now. As for the match with BLAJ, our focus will be mostly on us and on our own game.”
ASPTT MULHOUSE VB (FRA) vs. Developres SkyRes RZESZOW (POL)
• ASPTT MULHOUSE VB will host Developres SkyRes RZESZOW for their last match in Pool A. The hosts will be trying to make amends for the away loss they suffered in Rzeszow earlier this season. They will also try to provide their many fans with something to cheer about after the local supporters turned out in large numbers for the previous home matches contested by ASPTT MULHOUSE VB.
• On the other hand, Developres SkyRes RZESZOW, who are travelling straight from Wroclaw, where they played their last national championship game on Saturday, will for sure try to leave France with a victory.
• Both teams do not stand a chance of progressing to the Playoffs but they will surely play their best in order to bid farewell to the competition in emphatic style. The Palais des Sports in Mulhouse will be ready for this interesting and exciting game.
Britt Herbots, outside hitter of ASPTT MULHOUSE VB: “Developres SkyRes RZESZOW have a great team, with a very strong outside hitter [Hélène Rousseaux]. We played the first match in the group against RZESZOW and now we play the same opponent in the last round of the pool stage. Therefore, we have to give everything, especially since we have nothing to lose and we have to take some pleasure from our last game in the world’s elite club competition. We would really love to win the last match, but we should try to do so without feeling any pressure. It is more important to show that we have developed throughout this competition and have grown as a team.”
Olga Trach, middle blocker of ASPTT MULHOUSE VB: “I think RZESZOW is a very good and strong team! Every Champions League match is a priceless experience for our team! To play at home in front of our public is important for us! Our supporters believe in us. We do not have any pressure going into this match, so we will fight and just enjoy the game.”
Lorenzo Micelli, head coach of Developres SkyRes RZESZOW: “We are preparing our last match in the pool stage of the Champions League in the right way. We want to fight for the honour of our club and we will be doing so until the last ball touches the floor. We were very unlucky with some situations and we couldn’t play our best in this group; however, this is only our first participation in the Champions League and we can use this experience to our advantage for the future.”
Adela Helić, player of Developres SkyRes RZESZOW: “We know that we do not have a chance of achieving something more this season in the Champions League but we will try to give our best and to play good Volleyball. We want to get a boost of confidence for everything that is coming up in our national league. It is important to show a good level of Volleyball and to enjoy that.”
Pool B
Fenerbahce SK ISTANBUL (TUR) vs. Agel PROSTEJOV (CZE)
• Fenerbahce had a disappointing campaign in this year’s CEV Champions League and are out of contention for a spot in the Playoffs.
• Their win-loss record stands at 1-4, following a series of setbacks in home matches with Imoco Volley CONEGLIANO and Igor Gorgonzola NOVARA where the Yellow Angels dissipated a 2-0 lead and ended up losing at the tiebreak on both occasions.
• Agel PROSTEJOV have no wins at all out of five matches they have contested this far.
• The match has no impact on determining which teams eventually progress to the Playoffs 6.
Natalia Zilio Pereira, player of Fenerbahce: “We are a good team and we want to show that. The match with Agel PROSTEJOV is important for this reason. We want to get a boost of motivation ahead of the Turkish national league Playoffs. We are more powerful with our fans behind us and as a result, I hope many will come to Burhan Felek Volleyball Hall to support us.”
Igor Gorgonzola NOVARA (ITA) vs. Imoco Volley CONEGLIANO (ITA)
• It is the fifth time Igor Gorgonzola NOVARA and Imoco Volley CONEGLIANO face each other in the current season. By now, the score is 2-2.
• Imoco Volley won five games out of five so far, while NOVARA won four matches in a row after losing 1-3 in their seasonal Champions League debut.
• Katarzyna Skorupa and Lauren Gibbemeyer used to be CONEGLIANO players in the past, while Kimberly Hill and Samanta Fabris are former NOVARA players.
• Samantha Fabris is the top scorer with 86 points from CONEGLIANO so far, while Paola Egonu has scored 85 and she is the best attacker from NOVARA’s side.
• Imoco CONEGLIANO already gained a spot in the Playoffs phase. Igor Gorgonzola NOVARA needs a win to secure a spot as well.
Sara Bonifacio, player of Igor Gorgonzola NOVARA: “We know that this match is crucial for us. We are focused on achieving a good result and secure a spot in the Playoffs for our team. Imoco Volley are willing to achieve a revenge after having lost against us in the Italian Cup and Italian Supercup finals, but we are well prepared for this game and I am sure we will do our best. It won’t be easy, but we can make it.”
Daniele Santarelli, coach of Imoco Volley CONEGLIANO: “Here comes the most important event of the week, this last round with NOVARA to complete our journey in the CEV Champions League pool phase. We must change approach and play, as we know, against a great opponent. We will have to play a great game, and we know how to do so. After a European season where we have not lost a single match this far, we are aiming for the first place in the group, even though we know that in the Playoff matches all opponents are strong and that going from first or second place will not make such a big difference.”
Pool C
Chemik POLICE (POL) vs. Vizura RUMA (SRB)
• Chemik POLICE are hoping to improve their win-loss record in Pool C to 4-2.
• Chemik claimed their previous match with Vizura in three sets.
• The reigning Polish national champions vie for second place in the pool and still have a chance of progressing to the Playoffs.
Malwina Smarzek, player of Chemik POLICE: “We are really hoping for a big win. The first game ended in a 3-0 victory for us but I do not think that this indicates the real level of Vizura. They are a very young team, so if you let them feel the game, feel the chance, they can be dangerous. If we want to progress to the next round, we have to take three points from this match.”
Dinamo KAZAN (RUS) vs. Maritza PLOVDIV (BUL)
• Dinamo KAZAN and Maritza PLOVDIV have claimed their respective national cups this season and finished on top of the charts at the end of the regular season in their national championships.
• Back in December, Dinamo KAZAN claimed a 3-0 victory in Bulgaria when playing Maritza away from home.
• This match does not have much of an impact – with five straight wins Dinamo have secured first place in Pool C already while Maritza have lost five in a row and do not stand any chance of making it to the Playoffs.
• Maritza PLOVDIV’s nickname is the Yellow-and-Blues. Dinamo’s traditional colour is white-and-blue.
• Dinamo KAZAN boast a winning streak encompassing 27 matches by combining their results in the Champions League, the Russian Championship and the Russian Cup.
Alexander Perepelkin, assistant coach of Dinamo KAZAN: “We are getting ready for this match as we do for any other game. Probably, we will put an emphasis on our own game and team chemistry. Over the past two months, we have had many games and travelled extensively, which means that we had less training. Therefore, we will focus on training before the matchup with Maritza. Of course, we know Maritza’s style of playing – we have watched some videos. However, improving our own game is more important for us now.”
Elitsa Vasileva, player of Dinamo KAZAN: “After our game with Maritza in December, they changed the team composition – their two key players left the team. To the best of my knowledge, Maritza is famous for frequent substitutions. In fact, eight or ten players instead of six come onto the field during the game. Of course, we will get ready and watch their previous games. I believe it will be quite interesting because this opponent is very different from the teams that we usually play in the Russian championship. It will be a great experience for us.”
Pool D
Galatasaray SK ISTANBUL (TUR) vs. VakifBank ISTANBUL (TUR)
• Last week, Galatasaray SK defeated Dinamo MOSCOW 3-1 in another home match and by taking three points, they made sure the Muscovites are no longer in contention for a spot in the Playoffs.
• Galatasaray SK middle blocker Sinead Jack scored 18 points in that match including six kill blocks. Tatiana Kosheleva added another 17 to Galatasaray’s tally.
• VakifBank claimed their last match in the Pool too, recording a 3-0 away victory at Grot Budowlani LODZ in Poland with their star player Zhu Ting top scoring with 18 points.
• VakifBank have swept five matches in a row in Pool D while Galatasaray suffered their only setback earlier in the season when losing 1-3 to their city rivals.
• VakifBank and Galatasaray have completed the regular season of the Turkish national league in second and third place, respectively.
• Galatasaray SK players Cansu Çetin, Gizem Karadayi, Seda Aslanyürek and Neslihan Demir Güler will be all playing against their former club.
• VakifBank have won nine of their last 10 matchups against Galatasaray. Galatasaray’s last victory against their city rivals came on April 9, 2017 with a 3-0 score.
Mehmet Berent Bayrakci, team manager of Galatasaray SK: “After the Drawing of Lots, we knew that our pool was the toughest group in this year’s Champions League. We have played CL titleholders VakifBank, Dinamo MOSCOW, a representative of the extremely strong Russian Volleyball school, as well as Grot Budowlani LODZ, one of the best teams in the Polish national league. Out of five matches, we have won the last four in a row and we want to take three points from the fixture with VakifBank as well in order to progress to the next round as the pool leaders. That is what we have been aiming for since the beginning of the season and we will be trying to achieve on Tuesday.”
Dinamo MOSCOW (RUS) vs. Grot Budowlani LODZ (POL)
• Dinamo MOSCOW are out of contention for a spot in the Playoffs, therefore they will be playing this last match in Pool D quite relaxed.
• Since Dinamo are now focussing exclusively on their national championship, head coach Zoran Terzic may use this game as an opportunity to test a different starting six and provide reserve players with an opportunity to perform on the European stage.
• The fans in Moscow will nevertheless enjoy the opportunity to follow another match of Europe’s elite club competition on Russian soil.
• Dinamo are still motivated to do their best and secure their second victory in the group.
Nataliya Goncharova, star player of Dinamo MOSCOW: “We do not stand any chance to progress to the Playoffs anymore and I am quite disappointed with that. However, we will be trying hard to win this last match in the pool. It is also an opportunity to test some different things and to develop as a team.”
Irina Fetisova, middle blocker of the Russian team: “We have had good training days; we have worked a lot focussing on our block. I hope that we will show that. We would like to show good Volleyball and make our fans happy. It will be important for us to control their defence game and to block them at the net.”
How to follow the matches...
Watch them live: http://cev.laola1.tv/
Click here for a comprehensive TV schedule.
Live score, statistics, reports and photos: all available on www.cev.lu
Social Media: Follow via the official event hashtag (#CLVolleyW) with the most regular updates coming on our competition Twitter account @CEVolleyballCL
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