01/03/2016 11:33
Zenit hope to extend winning streak in re-match with Polish vice champions
2016 CEV DenizBank Champions League Volleyball - Men
Kazan, Russia, March 1, 2016. Poland’s vice champions Lotos Trefl GDANSK are poised for an ordeal this Wednesday as the reigning champions of Europe’s most prestigious tournament Zenit KAZAN have claimed 24 straight wins since last November and are the apparent favourites of the re-match between these two teams on schedule for the Playoffs 12 of the 2016 CEV DenizBank Volleyball Champions League – Men.
Lotos Trefl GDANSK lost 3-1 two weeks ago at home, and their head coach Andrea Anastasi unexpectedly brought the reserve players into action in the fourth set. The Italian expert explained this move by the fact that a successful performance in the national championship is among the top priorities for the team this season. On Sunday Lotos Trefl GDANSK paced up by the brilliant game of Sebastian Schwarz routed tournament leader Zaksa KEDZIERZYN-KOZLE (3-1), taking second place in the standings of the highly competitive Polish league.
There will be no Playoffs in the Russian Superleague this year - the winner will be determined by the results of the regular season. Eight rounds prior to the finals Zenit KAZAN’s margin over their closest competitor – Dinamo MOSCOW – stands at 10 points already. Last weekend the team from Tatarstan got the upper hand over Lokomotiv NOVOSIBIRSK sealing a straight 3-0 win in their home match with the Siberian team.
Zenit KAZAN recorded a strong-willed victory in a very close first set (31-29), and after that the Tatars claimed a no less challenging second period against Lokomotiv NOVOSIBIRSK (25-23). “Such close endings are really beneficial for the team, especially on the eve of important Champions League matches,” said Zenit KAZAN head coach Vladimir Alekno.
“Recently, we have ben longing for such challenging games that make us strain, galvanise and play strong and persistently. Sometimes our rivals in the Russian Superleague lack confidence which results in tons of errors, so they offer no resistance to our attacks,” commented Zenit KAZAN libero Alexey Verbov.
Remarkably, in the last matches Zenit KAZAN crushed the opponents with terrific serves contributed especially by their Cuban-born superstar Wilfredo Leon. The other Zenit KAZAN outside spiker Evgeny Sivozhelez is still out of the business due to injury and it is not clear yet when he will be able to come back and to perform again for the Russian armada.
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