10/05/2019 14:07
CSM Volei Alba BLAJ secure fourth title in Romanian national league
News from the National Federations
Blaj, Romania, May 10, 2019. CSM Volei Alba BLAJ claimed this week the title of Romania’s national champions, the fourth in their history! They finished the competition with a six-point advantage over their closest competitors and last year’s champions, C.S.M. BUCURESTI, a team that BLAJ defeated in three of their four matches against each other. CSM Volei Alba BLAJ finished the season with 23 wins in 25 matches, these accounting for 66 points in the final standing.
With four national titles won (2015, 2016, 2017 and 2019), a National Cup of Romania (2017), a silver medal in the CEV Champions League (2018) and in the CEV Cup (2019), CSM Volei Alba BLAJ boast a truly impressive record in eight years only since their establishment. In the coming season, CSM Volei Alba BLAJ will play for the fourth time in the CEV Volleyball Champions League.
Darko Zakoč, coach of Volei Alba BLAJ: “Every title has its own specificity, and this year was not easy to achieve. It was a good and bad season, where we had fluctuations in our game, and I think the last match in Bucharest with C.S.M. was decisive for the title, and what followed was just the confirmation of this achievement.”
The Serbian coach confirmed that he is thinking of staying in Blaj, as he would like to remain with the team with whom he has been working for the last five years. “I am pleased that there is a desire to continue our collaboration. On the other hand, I have been here for five years, and we have achieved and claimed every possible title. We have competed in the finals of the most important European competitions, where I think we have done wonders, considering the opponents we met. It is very difficult to fight for all these goals every year, and smart people know when to go. I may not be smart; the brain is probably telling me I should leave, but my heart is louder now and tells me to stay.”
Nneka Onyejekwe, captain of CSM Volei Alba BLAJ: “I have a feeling of happiness, we worked a lot for this title and we believe the goal of the season is fulfilled and I am glad we finished the championship injury free.”
Marina Vujovic, the libero who became the most successful player in Volei Alba’s history: “It is great, there are no words that can describe what I feel right now. This title is very special to me and I think it is the most important thing in my career, especially after what happened last year [when Marina suffered a very serious injury]. Blaj is my second home, certainly, and Volei Alba BLAJ is, after Crvena Zvezda BEOGRAD, the most important team in my career!”
The season is not over yet for CSM Volei Alba BLAJ, which will fight next week for another accolade. Romania’s champions will meet C.S.M. BUCURESTI in the Romanian Cup semifinals on Tuesday, May 14, and if successful, the team will play the final of the competition with the winners of the other semi between CSM LUGOJ and CSM TARGOVISTE on Wednesday.
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