15/12/2013 07:50
Agel PROSTEJOV takes on Turkish standout in last prelim round
2014 CEV DenizBank Volleyball Champions League - Women
Prostejov, Czech Republic, December 15, 2013. The ladies from Agel PROSTEJOV are going to end their campaign in the 2014 CEV DenizBank Volleyball Champions League on their home ground in the match versus hot favorite Eczacibasi VitrA ISTANBUL, which is the team that has not lost a single set yet in the prelims of Europe’s elite club competition. The clash between Agel and this immensely strong opponent is scheduled for December 17 at 6 p.m. at the DDM Sports Centre in Prostejov.
Both teams have already secured their final position in Pool D already before this match. Turkey’s standout is going to finish first and there is nothing to lose for them on Tuesday. But the result still matters to the Czech team because Agel wants to end up as one of the best third-ranked teams and make it to the Challenge Round of the 2014 CEV Volleyball Cup. To make sure they will advance to the Challenge Round without having to rely on the results from the other Pools, PROSTEJOV would have to claim two sets at least, which is not going to be easy against one of the Final Four candidates.
“It would be great to suffer a 2:3 loss but, of course, it is always better to win. However, if we take a good look at the quality of both teams, it is almost impossible to make a sensation and pocket the match. We twice suffered a 0-3 loss to RC CANNES although our game was very close in some sets, and Eczacibasi edged the French team in straight sets in both of their matches. That means our chances are quite obvious. Eczacibasi plays at the highest international level and it is very difficult to resist. We will certainly try to do our best but we have to wait to see whether it is enough or not,” says Agel PROSTEJOV head coach Miroslav Cada.
If the home team suffers a 0-3 loss (or 1-3) as expected, they will have to wait for the results in the other Pools to possibly make it among the eight teams that will contest the Challenge Round of the CEV Volleyball Cup. There are three possibilities: Agel needs DRESDNER SC not to win 3:0 or 3:1 in Beziers, or they need Tauron MKS DABROWA GORNICZA to lose to Stiinta BACAU regardless of the final score, or they shall hope Igtisadchi BAKU will suffer a 0:3 or 1:3 home loss to Crvena Zvezda BEOGRAD. The most probable option is definitely the first one but option 2 is also feasible, while option 3 is only theoretical. Will one of these options come true?
“I have never liked conjectures and I am not going to break this personal rule now. We have to zero in on ourselves and prepare really well for the coming match and show our best performance. There is nothing more we can do and there is no point in mulling over our chances. And I will definitely tell our ladies to fully focus just on our own game,” says Cada clearly. He also rejected the version that, as Eczacibasi is sure to take first place in Pool D they would not fight hard in Prostejov. “We cannot count on this possibility at all. On the contrary, I think they will try to claim their sixth consecutive win in straight sets to continue their campaign in the prelims without losing a single set, because this achievement is always quite unique.”
|