Luxembourg, May 10, 2018. Italian heavyweight Cucine Lube CIVITANOVA will be making this coming weekend in Kazan their third straight appearance in the Final Four of the CEV Volleyball Champions League. Their goal is surely to improve on the bronze medals they won in 2016 in Krakow and last year in Rome, but to achieve this feat, they will have to edge Poland’s Zaksa KEDZIERZYN-KOZLE in the first semi-final on Saturday.

Out of the four teams competing in the capital city of the Republic of Tatarstan, Cucine Lube – previously known as Lube Banca Marche MACERATA – are the only former winners of the Champions League – next to hosts Zenit KAZAN. The Italians claimed Europe’s most coveted Volleyball crown back in 2002 when the Finals took place in Opole, Poland – with Zaksa being the hosts of the event.

The 2017 Italian national champions have crossed the paths of Zaksa earlier this season – back in December they pulled out a hard-fought 3-2 victory in the pool stage of the FIVB Men’s Club World Championship. Therefore, fans can expect another close match in Kazan as well, with Lube hoping to make amends for the setback they suffered last Sunday in the last match of the Italian league championship series with Sir Colussi Sicoma PERUGIA.

Cucine Lube have made it to the final stage of the CEV Champions League as many as six times, including the 2018 edition. They won gold in 2002, but had to be content with fourth place in 2007 and 2009, before sweeping the bronze medals in 2016 and 2017. Their roster includes a two-time CL winner – Osmany Juantorena (pictured), who claimed top honours in 2010 and 2011 while wearing the shirt of TRENTINO Volley. Their star-studded roster includes the likes of American setter Micah Christenson, Bulgarian opposite Tsvetan Sokolov, French libero Jénia Grebennikov, outside hitter Jiri Kovar and many more. Sokolov is currently the fourth best scorer in this year’s Champions League on 158 points.

The strength of their collective is truly impressive and you can be sure that CIVITANOVA will be willing to add another medal to their resume when landing in Kazan. On Saturday, following the semi-final with Zaksa, we will know whether Lube will be battling for gold or bronze on Sunday as the club season reaches its true climax.   

Click here for further information or visit the official website http://finalfour.zenit-kazan.com/en.