Kamnik, Slovenia, February 12, 2019. A very special Volleyball evening will take place on Wednesday at the Sportna Dvorana Kamnik as both the women’s and men’s teams of Calcit Volley KAMNIK will go into battle against Monza-based clubs on the same evening in the quarterfinals of the 2019 CEV Volleyball Challenge Cup. These both are the return matches with the Italian teams being in a favourable position as the ladies of Saugella MONZA claimed a 3-0 home victory, while the men of Vero Volley MONZA managed a 3-1 win. Both Monza teams now need to win two sets to qualify for the semis of the competition.

Saugella, that during their journey in the Challenge Cup have signed five consecutive wins in a row, aim to secure the sixth to contest the first European semi-final in their history. To do so, Monza will try to replicate the solid performance they delivered in Brianza, supported by a superb blocking game (12 stuffs) that ended the match in three sets,with a massive 25-7 score in one of these.

The Italian squad celebrating their victory.

Laura Melandri, middle-blocker of Saugella MONZA: “We will face KAMNIK with the goal to bring home the victory. We will aim to impose our game, knowing that there are some aspects, which we can improve, to bring home the qualification to the semis. They are a very good team, with a good block-defence, even though the rhythm in the Italian Championship is much higher. They are for sure the hardest opponents that we have met so far in the Challenge Cup, that is why we need to pay attention and give our best.”

With a 3-1 victory at the Candy Arena in their bags, Vero Volley MONZA need to win at least two sets to lock up the qualification for the semis. The team coached by Fabio Soli showed in the first match to be well organised with Donovan Dzavoronok recording 22 points as he helped his team come back after losing the first set.

Martins Arasomwan, middle blocker of Vero Volley MONZA: “Every match must be approached with the same goal: aiming to win, pushing hard and playing as a team. To get the semifinal qualification we need to claim two sets, it is true, but we have to focus mainly on playing our game, trying to do the simple things well and defending a lot. Consistency and an effective serving game could be a further strong point to allow us to do well in blocking as well.”

Click here for further information about the women’s competition.

Click here for further information about the men’s competition.