Luxembourg, November 27, 2019. The big night of the second leg of the CEV Champions League Volley 2020 - Women saw Allianz MTV STUTTGART victorious in the home match against the titleholders of the competition, Igor Gorgonzola NOVARA. The other two Italian teams involved in the #CLVolleyW, A. Carraro Imoco CONEGLIANO and Savino Del Bene SCANDICCI, won the respective matches against C.S.M. Volei Alba BLAJ and Lokomotiv KALININGRAD Region. There was a straight-sets victory for VakifBank ISTANBUL against Nova KBM Branik MARIBOR, Dinamo MOSCOW lost only one set against Maritza PLOVDIV, whilst RC CANNES found success in the match against Uralochka-NTMK EKATERINBURG only after a tiebreak. The last match of the Leg 2 of the CEV Champions League Volley 2020 Women is scheduled for Thursday, November 28, at 19:00 local time and will see Fenerbahce Opet ISTANBUL facing Budowlani ŁÓDŹ.
Pool B
Nova KBM Branik MARIBOR (SLO) vs. VakifBank ISTANBUL (TUR) 0-3 (13-25, 17-25, 14-25)
VakifBank ISTANBUL record a first win in this year’s edition of the #CLVolleyW after in their first match of the group stage they lost a five-set thriller vs the Italians of Savino Del Bene SCANDICCI.
VakifBank ISTANBUL started slowly but as the first set was unfolding, the Turkish powerhouse changed pace, being more stable in the different components with Isabelle Haak scoring nine points on her own. Haak then continued with her great performance and became MVP of the match with a total of 19 points to her name.
Almost the same scenario unfolded in the second set, with VakifBank controlling the game, being more precise in the small details, playing smart. Anita Sobočan and Lorena Lorber Fijok from the home side managed to score some points, but that was not enough to stop the flying Turkish players.
Until the end of the match no surprises were delivered with VakifBank outclassing their opponents in all the aspects of the game, but most of all with their block (15 vs 1 for the Slovenian team).
1,400 spectators attended the game, helping create a great atmosphere in Maribor.
Maja Ognjenovic, setter of VakifBank ISTANBUL: “Honestly, this was an easy match for us, as expected. The team of Maribor are young players, a good team indeed, but I believe that at this moment we are much stronger. I am happy that we played at our level. After last week’s loss from SCANDICCI it was important for us to come back with some confidence. We won also in the Turkish Championship vs. Galatasaray, so we are having a good moment.”
Lorena Fijok Lorber of Nova KBM Branik MARIBOR: “We have to work on the little details, of course, VakifBank are a great team! It is an amazing experience for all of us as a team and individuals to be playing in the Champions League!”
The match between Savino Del Bene SCANDICCI and Lokomotiv KALININGRAD Region was a direct clash for the first place in the current standing of Pool B. Savino Del Bene survived last week a five-set thriller vs VakifBank ISTANBUL and on Wednesday emerged victorious again, but only after a long and intense game.
The first set started with a point for a point game and to please the fans in Siena - long rallies, interesting combinations and fast, but smart Volleyball.
Frustrated by the loss of the first set, the Russian side entered the second one much more determined and took the lead at 10-6. However, the Italians didn’t give up and followed down their opponents’ necks, even leading the way at 21-20. Irina Voronkova of Lokomotiv put an end to the discussion with an ace for 25-23, thus levelling the match.
The great battle between both sides continued also in the third set, and spectators in Palaestra Siena enjoyed high-class Volleyball. Although in the last minutes it seemed that Lokomotiv would emerge victorious, Savino Del Bene saved a set point to eventually turn things in their favour.
The Italians started better, with a small point difference and maintained control for most of the fourth set. In the last minutes, their opponents got closer, but led by their top scorer and eventual MVP Elena Pietrini (22 pts.) SCANDICCI kept calm and seized the victory, meaning they are now topping the charts in Pool B after Leg 2.
Ana Yilian Cleger Abel of Lokomotiv KALININGRAD Region put 23 points to her name and became best scorer of the game.
Marco Mencarelli, head coach of Savino Del Bene SCANDICCI: “We are very satisfied with the result, but also with the performance, as we were after the match in Istanbul.”
Magdalena Stysiak, opposite of Savino Del Bene SCANDICCI: “It was a very good match. We knew that Lokomotiv would be a tough rival, so we knew we had to fight. We have grown step by step and we played a good game.”
Andrei Voronkov, head coach of Lokomotiv KALININGRAD Region: “I think we had a good game, we played very well. We played three good sets, but we lost a little bit of quality at the end. It was our first Champions League match away from home, so we are not so glad about the result, but we played good.”
Irina Voronkova, player of Lokomotiv KALININGRAD Region: “I think it was a good match, especially because it was our first game away from home and I think for my team this is the next level. In the Russian Superleague the level is lower. Savino Del Bene had good service and we had problems with that. Maybe we will have more time to work to prepare for the next match. We need more quality in reception and block-defence; that is all. I liked the atmosphere in Siena and I hope we will have the same atmosphere in our home.”
Pool C
Allianz MTV STUTTGART (GER) vs. Igor Gorgonzola NOVARA (ITA) 3-1 (11-25, 25-20, 25-18, 25-23)
Not many people would have bet on Allianz MTV STUTTGART after the 25-11 loss of the first set, but the German champions put their troubles behind them and went on to beat the Champions League titleholders Igor Gorgonzola NOVARA 3-1 (11-25, 25-20, 25-18, 25-23). Essential was the performance of the setter/opposite duo of STUTTGART, Ainise Havili and Krystal Rivers. Rivers was top scorer with 28 points, Havili came on court after set 1 and made the match her own.
NOVARA came out flying, nothing could hold the 2019 CEV Champions League Volley winners back. In just 21 minutes thy seized the opening set by a landslide 25-11. Jovana Brakocevic Canzian was leading her team, there was not a single cloud in the sky for Massimo Barbolini's squad.
Bringing on Ainise Havili as a setter made all the difference for STUTTGART. She used all of her attackers, but mostly Krystal Rivers, who had just recovered from a stomach flu. Rivers was unstoppable, scoring 25 of her 28 points in the last three sets. This was the first time STUTTGART have managed to beat an Italian team in the Champions League.
NOVARA are now off to China for the FIVB Club World Championships, they leave on Friday. ŁKS Commercecon ŁÓDŹ lead Pool C with two matches won, STUTTGART are now in second place. NOVARA are third.
Kim Renkema, Sports Director of Allianz MTV STUTTGART: “Unbelievable – the performance of the girls on the court today. Together with our fantastic fans at the SCHARRena it felt like some kind of magic. We beat the regining CEV Champions League champions!”
Megan Courtney, outside hitter for Igor Gorgonzola NOVARA: “They played really well and we could not stand a chance today.”
Aurel Irion, Managing Director of Allianz MTV STUTTGART: “What a feast day! After such a disappointing first set an initiated turnaround with our incredible fans behind us. This was not expected. It will give us the power for the next difficult challenges!”
The Italian powerhouse of A. Carraro Imoco CONEGLIANO claimed their second victory in the competition. After really digging into their reserves last week with a five-set win over Vasas Óbuda BUDAPEST, they pushed back C.S.M. Volei Alba BLAJ in straight sets. Once again Paola Egonu was the top scorer of the match that makes sure CONEGLIANO stay within reach of NANTES VB, their next opponent in Leg 3.
The match was played in front of 1,500 Romanian fans in the Sala Sporturilor in Tirgu Mures. They saw BLAJ staying on course throughout the opening set, only letting CONEGLIANO build up a small lead. It was enough though for the Italians, as they eventually secured a 25-22 win. Egonu scored eight points for her team in the first set alone.
The second set was a walkover, BLAJ managing to get just 14 points in. Halfway through the third set, BLAJ seemed to be on their way towards prolonging the match with at least another set, but with Egonu on serve, the home team's advantage was quickly overthrown. With again 25-22, the match went the way of the Italian favourites.
Paola Egonu scored a total of 19 points and was chosen as the match's MVP. CONEGLIANO are now second in Pool D, right behind NANTES VB who have not dropped a point yet. BLAJ are last.
Paola Egonu, MVP of the match: “The level may not have been the highest for us, but it was quite difficult to keep our focus, we were a little nervous sometimes and we have to work on that.”
Danielle Santarelli, head coach of A. Carraro Imoco CONEGLIANO: “It was not a very easy match, but I am happy with the victory, not necessarily for our game, we had many ups and downs and it was not very easy to play at our best. On Sunday, we played against Savino Del Bene SCANDICCI, yesterday we got here, in two days we will fly to Asia for the Club World Championship, in China. If you do not train too much, it is not easy. But we are happy with the victory.”
Darko Zakoc, head coach of C.S.M. Volei Alba BLAJ: “I congratulate the visiting team, unlike last week's match against Vasas, today Imoco wanted to show everything that is qualitatively better. They played more seriously than last week and we knew that this would happen. We managed to get close to the opponent in sets 1 and 3, but I think that you cannot play against such teams without a strong service, strong attacks and a perfect reception. It is very difficult to talk about qualifying chances, after the defeat at Nantes it is very difficult, but we will give everything we can in the next matches.”
Femke Stoltenborg, setter for C.S.M. Volei Alba BLAJ: “We met one of the most powerful teams in the world, with world-class players. We knew it was difficult and we tried to play on a par, but they forced when they had to and they won. I think it was a useful match, a very good 'practice' for us.”
No better chance to have your fans closer than when you are facing Dinamo MOSCOW in the first home match of the season, and that was the case in Plovdiv. A sea of yellow-dressed fans filled the stands ready to support their team throughout the match.
Despite losing the first set, Maritza PLOVDIV showed great determination not to give up and winning the second set. What followed was an intense battle, in which the strongest team on the night won. Dinamo goes back to Moscow having obtained their second win in as many games, while Maritza will surely be looking to gain confidence from a strong performance going into their 3rd leg match away at Uralochka-NTMK EKATERINBURG.
Three of Dinamo’s players, Ekaterina Efimova, Iana Manziuk and Victoriia Chaplina, were in Yenisey KRASNOYARSK’s squad two years ago, against whom Maritza achieved their historic first-time breakthrough into the pool stage of the Champions League.
Bulgarian world-class boxer Kubrat Pulev, the current mandatory challenger for the IBF world heavyweight title, was among many other Bulgarian sports stars in the stands of Kolodruma Sport Hall, with the recently elected new mayor of Plovdiv, Zdravko Dimitrov.
Nataliya Goncharova was Dinamo MOSCOW’s star player with an impressive display that saw her score 26 points. Alexandra Holston was Maritza’s best scorer with 16 points.
Vladimir Orlov, head coach of Maritza PLOVDIV: “I am satisfied with our team's performance, since we managed to get into the rhythm of the match and showed that we can fight well against the likes of Dinamo MOSCOW. I would like to thank the girls for the determination they showed.”
Lora Kitipova, captain of Maritza PLOVDIV: “I think we did well in following our coach's instructions. Dinamo are a world-class team, but we could have given them even more hard time. We tend to play well against Russian teams, so I hope we stand a chance against Uralochka. We have nothing to lose.”
Alexander Sukomel, head coach of Dinamo MOSCOW: “The match worked out well for us. Maritza played very well, especially in defense. However, in the key moments we were slightly stronger and came out victorious. It was not easy as Maritza persisted in their resistance.”
Yana Shcherban, outside hitter of Dinamo MOSCOW: “Congratulations to our team for the victory! I would like to note that the team of Maritza played very well in defense and had a very good game today. It was also hard to play against them, because they attack very fast, so I am glad that we got the three points.”
An impressive crowd of 4,000 people came together at the DIVS Uralochka Arena for their team’s first home match of the #CLVolleyW season. The game between the two titled clubs provided quite a spectacular battle. In the long rallies, both teams showed tremendous defensive performances. The success of Uralochka-NTMK EKATERINBURG in the first set was courtesy of their blocks. The Russian team showed character and saved two set points, with middle-blocker Ekaterina Enina stopping the attacks of RC CANNES.
In the second set RC CANNES’ spikes were very efficienct. All players managed to reach an impressive minimum 50% successful attack rate. With the scoreboard showing 13-18, RC CANNES won five points in a row and forced the famous coach Nikolai Karpol to change the setter, with Tatiana Romanova being replaced by Vera Salikova.
In the third set the rested Romanova made three aces and helped her team turn the tide. In the end of the set RC CANNES were able to play off three set balls, but the captain of Uralochka-NTMK EKATERINBURG, Kseniia Parubets did not hesitate during the decisive moments. After sparing no effort, the Russian squad slowed down. The effectiveness of the attacks dropped to 29%, while the team of Italian coach Riccardo Marchesi made four blocks in the fourth set.
The victory of RC CANNES was determined by the confident game of Nadiia Kodola. She scored six points in the tiebreak alone, earning a solid 24 points and 53% positive serve reception. Uralochka-NTMK EKATERINBURG's leader, Kseniia Parubets scored 27 points.
Riccardo Marchesi, head coach of RC CANNES: “We had high expectations for this match. I am glad to get the win, because Uralochka-NTMK EKATERINBURG is a very strong opponent. Both teams showed good volleyball, but luck was a bit more on our side. Obviously, we want to reach the CEV Champions League Volley 2020 quarterfinals, but our strategy is simple — we move from match to match, step by step.”
Myriam Kloster, captain of RC CANNES: “It was a good match, a close fight. We fought to the end and showed a good game in defence. The team fought for every ball, during the tiebreak this attitude was decisive.”
Mikhail Karpol, head coach of Uralochka-NTMK EKATERINBURG: “I want to congratulate RC CANNES on a well-deserved victory. They showed a very good game and their defence game was outstanding. We need to apologise to the fans for two failed sets during the match - the team shouldn’t play like that at home. The French club managed to show a stronger game in the tiebreak. We are struggling after losing Hanna Klimets due to injury, she was our key attacker and we are in search of a solution to replace her. So far, this process is not easy.”
Ekaterina Evdokimova, middle-blocker of Uralochka-NTMK EKATERINBURG: “Our team did not show its attacking potential. A lot of our attacks never came to a logical conclusion, plus we gradually accumulated fatigue. These factors led to the defeat.”