16/01/2018 10:05
Asterix Avo BEVEREN preparing for hectic period, including double header with STUTTGART
2018 CEV Volleyball Cup -
Beveren, Belgium, January 16, 2018. The holiday period is over for Asterix Avo BEVEREN as the reigning Belgian national champions have a very busy schedule in the coming weeks. In the national competition, the matches with their regional rivals, VDK GENT and VC OUDEGEM will be essential to determine the participation in the Playoffs. The Belgian Cup finals on Sunday, February 18 at 18:00 are as always a major event in Volleyball. Their opponents will again be VC OUDEGEM.
Their schedule includes also the double header with Allianz MTV STUTTGART in the 8th Finals of the 2018 CEV Volleyball Cup – Women. This will by far be the most difficult challenge. The German team is fully professional, with three players from Germany, the Netherlands and the USA, and further players from Serbia, Montenegro, Czech Republic, Hungary and Brazil. To complete the international atmosphere, their coach is Greek and their assistant coach is Tamari Miyashiro, a former member of the USA national team. STUTTGART is battling with DRESDNER SC for the top spot in the very competitive German Bundesliga. That team is a possible opponent for the side that makes it to the quarterfinals. The home game will exceptionally take place on Tuesday, February 6 at 19:30, in “De Meerminnen” in Beveren.
Coach Gert Vande Broek is looking positively towards this busy period. “A fast succession of high-intensity games is part of sports at the highest level, and this is exactly what we want to present to our young players. It requires a quite large group to select from, and that is why I am very happy that Luisa Schirmer has joined our group. Several players are suffering from different injuries, and this gives us more options.”
Team Captain Céline Van Gestel is optimistic about the possibilities of the team. “I think that STUTTGART is the clear favourite in this confrontation, but we don’t give up easily. Priority for us is the national cup final. It is the 18th time in a row that we take part in the finals, and we really want that trophy! Luisa is already well integrated in the team, and her presence gives us extra possibilities, both as a team and individually.”
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