04/04/2018 10:00
Dinamo KAZAN take on do-or-die mission in re-match with Italian ‘Panthers’
2018 CEV Volleyball Champions League - Women
Luxembourg, April 4, 2018. Dinamo KAZAN are hosting Imoco Volley CONEGLIANO in a highly-anticipated repeat of the fixture that the Italian ‘Panthers’ won two weeks ago in three straight sets. The Russian national champions and 2014 CL gold medal winners have to claim a 3-0 or 3-1 home victory to vie for the Golden Set and remain in contention for a much-coveted ticket to the Final Four of the 2018 CEV Volleyball Champions League – Women due to take place in Bucharest on May 5-6.
• In this match, Russia’s ‘Ladybugs’ will be playing the Italian ‘Panthers’.
• Anna Kotikova, who is only 18 years old, is replacing the injured Elitsa Vasileva in the ranks of Dinamo KAZAN. She is one of the youngest players competing in the Playoffs 6 of this year’s CEV Volleyball Champions League – Women.
• Two weeks ago, Imoco Volley claimed a comprehensive 3-0 victory at home.
• Dinamo KAZAN have to claim a 3-0 or 3-1 victory to vie for the Golden Set.
• The respective setters, Evgeniya Startseva and Joanna Wolosz, are the best players in this year’s Champions League when it comes to this position and role. Which one of the two will emerge victorious from this fixture?
Evgeniya Startseva, captain of Dinamo KAZAN: “Imoco Volley played a very fast Volleyball at their home. We usually do not play against such kind of opponent. None of the teams in our national championship plays such a fast volleyball, as the Italians showed two weeks ago. Of course, we tried to prepare for such a playing style, but they turned out to be even faster than we expected.”
Irina Koroleva, player of Dinamo KAZAN: “Since earlier in this season we have been winning match after match, so it was not like we lost concentration, but, perhaps, we got too much self-confidence. However, the match in Italy knocked us down a peg. After this, you realise that you have not won anything yet and that you still have something to work on. We knew that we would encounter even more difficulties as we progressed to the next stage in the Champions League... After this experience, we have something to think about, something to correct. Nevertheless, I believe our game at home will be much better.”
Monica De Gennaro, libero of Imoco Volley CONEGLIANO: “We have to travel to Kazan without making any calculations. We have to go there to win the second match as well; if we think we have an advantage because of our home victory, we will be going there with a completely wrong attitude. We have been having a very tough schedule lately with many matches in the national league and in the European Cups as well, but it has been the same for the whole season, therefore we are somehow used to it. It will be a great challenge, but we feel good and we are ready to play for the qualification to the Final Four.”
How to follow the match…
Watch it 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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