Middle European men’s teams were active in the three CEV European Cups. Except for Mladost Zagreb it was the opponents that celebrated the victories in the Champions League and CEV Cup, however the Middle European teams still have a chance to secure advancement in the away matches following in the upcoming weeks. In the Challenge Cup both Austrian teams were able to secure a victory.
CDV Guaguas LAS PALMAS of Spain have re-started their European journey with a 3-0 victory over Calcit KAMNIK of Slovenia. The two teams exchanged the lead back and forth in the first set until the Spaniards opened a small gap at 15-12. The visiting team through Jan Klobucar tried to get closer, although without success as with the help of a superb Yosvany Hernández the hosts won the first set (25-20). Guaguas opened the second set with a 6-2 run before KAMNIK managed to close the deficit. However, some Slovenian errors and the quality displayed by LAS PALMAS in attack produced a 25-22 win for the hosts. The third set was more under control of the Spanish team, even though the visitors fought to the end thanks to Tommi Siirilä and Klobucar. However, the Spaniards claimed another 25-22 win to make sure they ‘only’ need to take two sets from the re-match next week in Slovenia to progress to the 16th Finals.
:“We started very bad and especially our reception was weak. Our game went down and I had to make some changes. We stabilised a bit our reception and we had some chances but obviously, a 0-3 loss is not what I wanted. I still think we stand a chance but we have to be more determined when we play the re-match at home. We have to deliver our A-game to be able to compete against Guaguas. We now know each other much better and even though we managed to neutralise a bit their opposite, he delivered the points when it mattered the most.”
Matija Plesko
Head Coach of Calcit KAMNIK
“I think next week will be a tough match – especially since they will be playing the return match at home and this is such an advantage. We have to learn from our Champions League experience that we have to play until the end – no matter by how many points we lead, because every team in this competition is a quality team. I definitely think that if we play as we did today we have some good options to win.”
Matt Knigge
Player of CDV Guaguas LAS PALMAS
In a matchup featuring a team that had previously contested the early stages of the elite CEV Champions League, Arkas IZMIR of Turkey defeated Slovakia’s Rieker UJS KOMARNO 3-1 (23-25, 25-20, 25-13, 25-10) to claim an advantage ahead of the second leg coming up next week in Izmir.
CEV Champions League – Men
CEZ KARLOVARSKO (CZE) – Sport LISBOA e Benfica (POR) 1-3 (25-20, 23-25, 21-25, 23-25)
CEV Volleyball Cup – Men
CSM Arcada GALATI (ROU) – VK Lvi PRAHA (CZE) 3-1 (25-19, 25-17, 22-25, 25-21)
UVC Holding GRAZ (AUT) – Dinamo BUCURESTI (ROU) 1-3 (17-25, 19-25, 31-29, 22-25)
CDV Guaguas LAS PALMAS (ESP) – Calcit KAMNIK (SLO) 3-0 (25-20, 25-22, 25-22)
Rieker UJS KOMÁRNO (SVK) – Arkas IZMIR (TUR) 1-3 (25-23, 20-25, 13-25, 10-25)
Mladost ZAGREB (CRO) – SKV USTI NAD LABEM (CZE) 3-0 (26-24, 25-23, 25-12)
CEV Volleyball Challenge Cup – Men
VSC Law Academy KHARKIV (UKR) – VCA AMSTETTEN NÖ (AUT) 1-3 (22-25, 33-31, 23-25, 20-25)
UVC Weberzeile RIED IM INNKREIS (AUT) – VRCK KAZINCBARCIKA (HUN) 3-0 (25-22, 25-18, 25-12)
