10/05/2018 15:45
Zenit hope to make history when hosting #CLVolleyM Finals in Kazan
2018 CEV Volleyball Champions League - Men
Kazan, Russia, May 10, 2018. With their record of 10 titles in the Russian national league and five CEV Champions League crowns, Zenit KAZAN are definitely the most successful men’s Volleyball team of the past decade. The invincible ‘armada’ from the capital of Tatarstan added earlier this season the only accolade that was still missing from their resume when claiming top honours from the FIVB Men’s Club World Championship in Poland. The pressure is slowly mounting as Zenit are hosting the Final Four tournament of the 2018 CEV Volleyball Champions League at home – and the preparations are up and running at Basket-Hall, where 7,000 fans will be following the ‘ultimate Volleyball part of the year’.
Zenit KAZAN first won Europe’s elite club competition in 2008 under their previous denomination of Dinamo-Tattransgaz – before adding to their record the crown from the 2012 edition as well as the last 3 titles in a row. Their middle blocker Alexander Gutsalyuk is the only player to date to boast as many as five Champions League gold medals to his name – he achieved this feat four times with Zenit (2012, 2015, 2016 and 2017) and in 2013 with Lokomotiv NOVOSIBIRSK.
The city of Kazan has become the sports capital of Russia after hosting a majestic 2013 Summer Universiade as well as many international events in an impressive number of sports. It is the ‘Volleyball capital of Russia’ as well with the women’s team of Dinamo having brought further accolades to Tatarstan, including the gold medals from the 2014 CEV Volleyball Champions League.
The organisers are working around the clock at Basket-Hall to prepare the ideal stage for the world’s best Volleyball players to perform. One of these is definitely Matthew Anderson – who chiefly contributed to Zenit’s success in the last three Final Four tournaments. The American outside hitter stands out off the court as well – as he does in this cool video produced on the eve of the event:
If they use the home-court advantage to the fullest, Zenit KAZAN will improve on their all-time record to become the only side to win Europe’s elite club competition six times – and four times in a row. At this stage, they share with Italy’s TRENTINO Volley the privilege of having swept the gold medals for three straight seasons. Zenit KAZAN are also hoping to extend Russia’s rule in the competition – which has been lasting since they seized the title back in 2012 in Lodz, Poland after a truly dramatic gold medal match with PGE Skra BELCHATOW.
Click here for further information or visit the official website http://finalfour.zenit-kazan.com/en.
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