18/11/2016 11:29
Voices from Maaseik - Jelte Maan does not want to play any golden set
2017 CEV Volleyball Champions League - Men
Maaseik, Belgium, November 18, 2016. After cruising to a dominant 3-0 victory in their away game against Abiant Lycurgus GRONINGEN, the Belgian side of Noliko MAASEIK feels confident for the return in its own Lotto Dôme this Sunday.
Team captain Jelte Maan knows it all about the CEV Volleyball Champions League. In his ninth (!) season with Noliko MAASEIK, he eagerly wants to add a ninth (!) pool phase participation to his personal record. In order to achieve this feat, he will have to eliminate a team from his home country for the first time in his career.
“In Groningen we created the perfect starting position,” the Dutch spiker says. “I’ve been in many situations in the Champions League, but I’ve never had the bad experience of losing a golden set after a 3-0 victory on the road.”
“I do remember a bad loss in a golden set some five years ago against JASTRZEBSKI Wegiel. In Poland we lost 3-2, at home we clearly beat coach Bernardi’s team by 3-0. Yet, we spoiled the access to the Final Four in the golden set. It was a bitter outcome, especially since that system has been altered afterwards. in these days, all that mattered was a victory, regardless of the number of sets won and lost. In the new system a 3-2 gives you one point; that’s a lot fairer.”
Maan is happy that Noliko MAASEIK is on the verge of qualifying for the group stage on the basis of results, after being accepted two years in a row thanks to a wild card. “Our team is a lot stronger than the teams we had before. Coach Daniel Castellani, who arrived in Maaseik in January, had the opportunity to compose his new team during the off season according to his own vision. He found the perfect mix between an experienced defence and a couple of very young spikers.”
“Moreover we are all very ambitious: we aim at the highest goals. We really want that spot in Pool B, where top teams from Poland, Russia and Turkey are awaiting us.”
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