17/11/2014 12:49
Players of NANTES VB take plenty of positives from their CL debut
2015 CEV DenizBank Volleyball Champions League - Women
Nantes, France, November 17, 2014. France’s rookies NANTES VB were close to cause a sensation last Wednesday when they stretched to a dramatic tie-break their away match with Azeryol BAKU which marked their debut in the CEV DenizBank Volleyball Champions League – Women. The sensation did not follow in the end but NANTES VB could travel back home happy with their performance and the point they got from the match with Azeryol. The countdown has already started for their first home match with Stiinta BACAU that is scheduled for November 26.
“I am very happy with our performance,” says Belgian middle blocker Angie Bland, “but not only for us and the coaching staff but also for all other people around us, our fans, and the many volunteers, everyone who is supporting us. I believe that we are improving match after match. After winning a home match with RC CANNES it was important to play at that same level and this is what we did in Baku. I am very proud of our performances because we are writing history for NANTES VB right now. When you play for the first time in such competition you have to start somewhere and I am happy we could take one point from the match with Azeryol. This way we can expect something good also for the future but we have to keep on working hard because we will be playing some of the best teams in Europe. However, there is an extremely good ambiance in the group and all the teams that will travel to Nantes can expect that they will have to fight hard to take the victory home.”
“The most striking difference you get to feel in the Champions League is physical,” adds outside hitter Clementine Druenne. “All players are very tall and in Baku they all stood above 190 cm. This means that they play in a different way from what we are used to but in spite of this the result of the match with Azyerol shows that we are not so far away from their actual level. The atmosphere in Baku was quite ‘hot’ but we did not bother. I think we will get to feel it even more once we play Fenerbahce Grundig ISTANBUL at their home. In such case we have to remain focused even though this won’t be that easy. For the first home match here in Nantes we have to keep calm and do the same we did with RC CANNES and Azeryol. In such case we can take three points. Stiinta BACAU is at least on paper the team that is closer to our level and we want to welcome them with the same atmosphere we found in Baku, so Nantes will be on fire on that day!”
The Brazilian libero of NANTES VB, Luiza Ungerer, was one of the best players for the French side in the match with Azeryol. “I think it was a good match, it is a shame that we had two match balls and in the end we lost. However we played good and this promises good things for the next matches. It is true that they were physically imposing and they hit very hard, but we could stand them. I am now very much looking forward to our first home match where this time the fans will be at our side. I expect many supporters and hopefully we will seize the night.”
In cooperation with Presse Océan NANTES VB have launched a special action for their home matches in the 2015 CEV DenizBank Volleyball Champions League. The fans are invited to take ‘selfies’ with a Volleyball theme and post them on social networks. The most original one will be chosen three days before the Champions League comes to town and the winner will receive six tickets to attend that home game.
Click here for more information on the 2015 CEV DenizBank Volleyball Champions League – Women
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