19/02/2018 10:44
Truly exciting game coming up in Ekaterinburg for CEV Cup quarterfinals
2018 CEV Volleyball Cup - Women
Ekaterinburg, Russia, February 19, 2018. Uralochka-NTMK EKATERINBURG have started the most important section of their 2017-2018 campaign. In the first round of the 2018 CEV Volleyball Cup – Women quarterfinals, the team of Nikolay Karpol will have a very demanding test on Wednesday with the best team of Belarus – Minchanka MINSK.
There are many interesting facts in this duel. For sure, it will be a match of special importance for outside hitter Anastasiya Harelik and opposite Hanna Klimets since they are two of the star players on the national team of Belarus. Harelik moved to Russia after starting her career at Minchanka MINSK – therefore she knows inside out her former colleagues now ready to fight on the other side of the net. “These games are very important for me,” she said. “I played my first matches in Minchanka MINSK when I was only 16. It is still a strong and ambitious club. I am glad that in recent weeks Uralochka-NTMK EKATERINBURG have gained a good shape, so we will strive to reach the semi-finals. But I expect that both games against Minchanka MINSK will not be easy at all, but that makes it even more exciting.”
Uralochka-NTMK EKATERINBURG tested their level at the start of the Playoffs in the Russian Superleague last weekend. The team of Nikolay Karpol celebrated a home victory in a tough match against the Zarechie ODINTSOVO (3-1). It is interesting that in this round 80-year-old Volleyball guru Karpol is playing the newly-appointed head coach of the Russian national team, Vadim Pankov.
“It was a great match for both teams and now we are going well spirited into the CEV Cup quarterfinals,” said Karpol. Minchanka MINSK for the first time in their history have made this far in the European Cups. Obviously, they want to reach the next round too. The fans can therefore expect a close fight in Ekaterinburg.
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