19/01/2015 22:42
BERLIN Recycling Volleys on final spurt in CL prelims
2015 CEV DenizBank Volleyball Champions League - Men
Berlin, Germany, January 19, 2015. As the group phase in Europe’s elite club competition, the 2015 CEV DenizBank Volleyball Champions League, is approaching its end with another two rounds to go, the team of BERLIN Recycling Volleys is awaiting the home clash with Budvanska Rivijera BUDVA this Wednesday seeking for revenge for the setback they suffered in the away match played weeks ago in Montenegro.
“The previous matches in the Champions League were important, but now the crucial and deciding phase has begun,” BERLIN head coach Mark Lebedew says prior to Wednesday’s match against Montenegro’s champions, adding: “We need to give off our best to make it to the next round – and we will do so.” Currently second in Pool C behind Asseco Resovia RZESZOW the German national champion comes to this match with a vital and prestigious 3-2 win in the Bundesliga over arch-rivals of VfB FRIEDRICHSHAFEN this past Sunday. “Winning against VfB FRIEDRICHSHAFEN gives us confidence – as the team is undoubtedly a national stand-out. If we are able to defeat FRIEDRICHSHAFEN at the high performance level they currently have, we are able to achieve a lot,” the Australian mentor looks optimistically forward to the upcoming CL match.
Despite all optimism, Lebedew is aware of the great challenge ahead of his team, since Budvanska Rivijera BUDVA turned out to be a tough team to play in the away match held in November, when the side from Germany’s capital suffered a bitter 2-3 defeat in Montenegro. Even though the 0-2 deficit could be turned into a five setter, the comeback was not rewarded. “BUDVA played really well in November, two sets at a very high level. And especially Vojin Cacic was hard to handle,” Lebedew recalls.
However, Wednesday is a new match to play, as the head coach explains: “Since November a lot of things have happened. BUDVA managed to win both of their home matches, but lost another two matches away – it is hard to predict what will happen tomorrow. I do hope we can replicate the performance we showed on Sunday against FRIEDRICHSHAFEN – if we manage to do so, everything is possible.”
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