31/10/2016 14:44
CEV Champions League brings two fixtures featuring teams from Estonia and Serbia
2017 CEV Volleyball Champions League - Men & Women
Tallinn, Estonia, October 31, 2016. A year ago the Estonian and Serbian men’s national teams delivered a thrilling match at the EuroVolley 2015. This week is going to provide fans from the two countries with as many as four exciting matches at club level. Defending Estonian women’s champions KOHILA VC host Vizura BEOGRAD on Tuesday whilst Selver TALLINN (pictured) take on Crvena Zvezda BEOGRAD on Wednesday in the second round of the 2017 CEV Volleyball Champions League.
KOHILA VC have already played in this year’s Champions League when they grabbed historic victories and defeated Montenegro’s Luka BAR 3-1 and 3-2 in the first round. “Both teams are from the same region but our next opponent is much stronger than the previous one. Many of Vizura’s players have represented the Serbian junior national team and now want to make a step further and get into the senior national team. And we all know how good the Serbian national team is,” said KOHILA VC head coach Peeter Vahtra.
So for the home side it will be quite a test coming on Tuesday evening. “But we have nothing to lose. In this competition we stand not only for our club but we represent also Estonian women’s Volleyball and every point, set or even match we manage to win with our good game will be a huge step forward,” Vahtra added.
On the other hand, Selver TALLINN make their debut in the Champions League and become the third Estonian men’s team to compete on the highest level of European Volleyball. “For me and all of the team it will be a huge experience to participate in the Champions League and we are highly motivated,” said the team’s opposite Lincoln Williams.
The Champions League might be a new challenge for Selver but the opponent isn’t. The two clubs have played against each other twice, sharing wins. The first duel was won by Selver. Both teams won their home matches 3-0 in the 8th Finals of the CEV Volleyball Challenge Cup in the 2007/2008 season but it was the golden set that gave the eventual win to Selver. Besides, the first set of the second matchup ended 40-38 (!) to Crvena Zvezda.
The team from the Serbian capital got their revenge four years later when they won two matches on schedule for the Round of 32 in the CEV Volleyball Cup by 3-2 and 3-0.
“Crvena Zvezda play very decent Volleyball and they have quite an experienced team,” said Selver team’s head coach Rainer Vassiljev. “Every international game gives our young team a superb opportunity to acquire experience. We want to do our things as good as possible and at least in our home games cause a lot of troubles to our opponents,” he added.
|