15/01/2014 16:22
Fenerbahce SK brings world-class Volleyball to Finland
2014 CEV Volleyball Cup - Women
Salo, Finland, January 15, 2014. Turkey’s heavyweight Fenerbahce SK ISTANBUL will be playing LP SALO on Thursday for the first round of action in the 1/4 finals of the 2014 CEV Volleyball Cup – Women. The “Yellow Angels” have only one goal, which is to edge the Finns and continue their campaign all the way through the finals that are scheduled for late March.
“When you progress to the 1/4 finals and there are only eight teams still in the race, you only get to play strong opponents” says Fenerbahce SK mentor Marcello Abbondanza. “LP SALO is a good team and they always keep on fighting until the end. They play good especially in defence and we must be prepared for a tough game. Of course our ultimate goal is to win the CEV Volleyball Cup, but we first need to take it step by step.”
“This is a great challenge for us” explains LP SALO head coach Kari Raatikainen. “We have played excellent matches last year when we made the semis in the Challenge Cup and this year we have beaten some great opponents also in the CEV Cup. It’s time to show once more what we are capable of. Fenerbahce is a top team, with world-class players. They are taller than my girls and physically stronger. We shall serve strong and catch every ball in defence.”
One of the major stars of Fenerbahce is Korean Kim Yeon-Koung, who was chosen as MVP of the Volleyball tournament at the 2012 London Olympics where she settled for fourth place with her national team. Kim is visiting Finland for the very first time: “This country looks very beautiful though very cold” she says. “Anyway for me it makes no difference it I am playing at the Olympics or in Finland. I always try to play my best. It’s not that easy to achieve this goal every time you play but that is also why our coach Marcello Abbondanza is here.”
LP SALO is the current leader of the Finnish national league with 42 points after 15 matches, with their record standing at 14 wins and one defeat so far. The match with Fenerbahce SK ISTANBUL will take place on Thursday, January 16, at the local Salohalli.
Picture: from left to right LP SALO head coach Kari Raatikainen, Fenerbahce and Korea’s Volleyball star Kim Yeon-Koung, LP SALO wing-spiker Noora Kosonen and Fenerbahce mentor Marcello Abbondanza portrayed after the press conference they attended on Wednesday in Salo
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