02/12/2019 13:53
Anticipation mounts in Lugoj ahead of first-ever European Cup fixture in town
CEV Volleyball Challenge Cup 2020 - Women
Lugoj, Romania, December 2, 2019. The Romanian city of Lugoj, which lies in the region of Banat, is about to host the first ever match played in town for the European Cups when home side C.S.M. LUGOJ host on Wednesday Dukla LIBEREC of the Czech Republic.
After participating for ten straight years in the highest division of the Romanian national league and contesting three editions of the annual BVA Cup (2011, 2013 and 2018), finishing as runners-up each time, C.S.M. LUGOJ eventually qualified for the European Cups for the first time at the end of the 2018-2019 season.
Out of 13 players on the roster of C.S.M. LUGOJ, as many as eight are from the local area. The group includes setter Diana Lorena Balintoni, who earlier this year played at EuroVolley 2019 with the Romanian national team after securing top honours from the European Silver League.
C.S.M. LUGOJ have only two foreign players, both from Serbia, Nina Kocic and Tamara Ignjic. The roster includes a number of members of the Romanian youth and junior national teams as well – with the Serbian duo Ugljesa Segrt and Dragan Grbic at the helm of the group as head coach and assistant coach, respectively.
The anticipation is mounting in Lugoj for the European debut of their team. The re-match will be taking place on December 17 in Liberec. The eventual winners of this double fixture will be playing Turkey’s THY ISTANBUL or Ibsa CV CCO 7 PALMAS of Spain in the 8th Finals.
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