20/01/2015 11:52
Batteries are charged again at DRESDNER SC
2015 CEV DenizBank Volleyball Champions League - Women
Dresden, Germany, January 20, 2015. After a sweaty practice session on Saturday morning, DRESDNER SC’s head coach Alexander Waibl granted his team a bit of spare time to get the heads free and the batteries charged again. So middle blocker Jaroslava Pencova hopped into her car, turned on the music and drove home to Bratislava to see her boyfriend and their little dog. “This break helped a lot. It was great for both my body and mind”, says the 24-year-old who is rushing from match to match with her team. Since the beginning of the season at the end of October, DRESDNER SC has already played 21 games – an enormous strain.
Especially after the disappointing 0:3 home loss to Unendo Yamamay BUSTO ARSIZIO last week it was important to take one step back. Now the German champions will be in perfect shape when they will face LP SALO in their last home match in the League Round of the 2015 CEV DenizBank Volleyball Champions League on Wednesday, January 21, 7:30pm (local time). This will be an important match for DRESDNER SC because it is about crucial points to decide whether their “Mission: Europe” will continue in the Champions League.
After their two straight up losses against Unendo Yamamay BUSTO ARSIZIO, Pencova’s team is placed third in Pool C with four points. That’s already five points behind Unendo Yamamay BUSTO ARSIZIO and six to the current leaders Dinamo MOSCOW. Although the three third placed teams with the best score will also qualify to the Playoffs, DRESDNER SC needs support to achieve that because Omichka OMSK REGION, Nordmeccanica PIACENZA and Rabita BAKU are already sitting on seven, respectively six, points.
Jaroslava Pencova does not attach too much importance to the current standings. “The most important thing is that we’re over and done with the two matches against the Italians. We analysed our mistakes, learned from them and now we’re looking forward to playing LP SALO. We should just focus on our game,” says the tall Slovakian player who fielded every single match this season due to the prolonged knee problems of the great US talent and international Chloe Ferrari.
Despite the heavy schedule and some minor injuries Pencova is playing a great season. She even got voted into the “Stars in Motion: Dream Team of the Week” after her impressive performance against Dinamo MOSCOW in the first leg of the 2015 CEV DenizBank Volleyball Champions League. “This season I am playing on a new position and there are many things to learn,” she replies modestly. Pencova has undertaken the role of her former roommate Stefanie Karg who is playing for Agel PROSTEJOV this season.
On her new position she wants to perform well again when DRESDNER SC will be playing LP SALO on Wednesday. Their first encounter became a thrilling tie-break battle with a happy end for the German champions. Pencova wouldn’t mind if her team comes up on top again and is confident going into the match: “We are a team with many strengths. But when it comes to crunch time it’s all about your mind. Up until now we are playing with a lot of confidence and do the right thing at key moments.” Let’s see if the team of Alexander Waibl will continue making the right decisions on Wednesday. For sure it’s going to be an exciting match.
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