15/11/2019 11:54
Russian giant Dinamo MOSCOW set the bar high
CEV Champions League Volley 2020
Moscow, Russia, November 15, 2019. Russian powerhouse Dinamo MOSCOW have had a bit of a rocky start to the 2019/2020 season but after a few weeks, they look ahead to their campaign in the Russian Superleague and CEV Champions League Volley 2020 with confidence and optimism.
Lauren Carlini of USA has replaced Serbia’s Maja Ognjenovic as the main setter of Dinamo. “I am happy to play with Dinamo; everyone has been very kind and supportive this far. Moreover, it is great to play with such a player as Nataliya Goncharova. She is one of the best players in the world! She can hit every ball, no matter how I set, but of course we will work hard so that we develop the right chemistry and I set as best as I can for her,” Carlini said after her first match together with the Russian star opposite hitter.
Dinamo have set the highest goals for the 2019/2020 season. “After completing a clean sweep of all domestic competitions last year, we can only set one goal – to repeat this achievement. As for international competitions, last year we failed to make it among the top four in the CEV Champions League, but I am sure that we can achieve this goal this time around,” said General Director, Vladimir Zinichev.
Dinamo will be playing another Russian team, Uralochka-NTMK EKATERINBURG, in the pool stage of the CEV Champions League. Zinichev commented: “Nothing comes easy in a competition of this level. We must prepare with much care for the matches against Uralochka, as well as with the other opponents in the group,” Zinichev continued. These are RC CANNES of France and Bulgaria’s Maritza PLOVDIV.
Alexander Sukomel, Dinamo’s head coach, stresses that it was difficult to start the preparations for the ‘new’ season without a number of players busy with their national teams, including Carlini. “It takes time to develop the team when you start working without your main players, but now we have been together for a while and are working very hard to achieve the highest goals,” he said.
Next week, Dinamo will start their journey in the #CLVolleyW Pool E with a home match against domestic rivals Uralochka on November 21.
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