On Tuesday, Nova KBM Branik MARIBOR (SLO) finished their CEV Champions League campaign with a 1-3 (25-23, 20-25, 20-25, 14-25) home loss against Savino Del Bene SCANDICCI (ITA), while Vasas Óbuda BUDAPEST (HUN) stood no chance against hosts C.S.M. Volei Alba BLAJ (ROU) on this closing day of pool play.
Therefore, both the Slovenian and Hungarian reigning national Champions could not record a win in their six matches in this season’s group stage.
PHOTO © CEV
“We won our first set in this year’s Champions League, but we could have won another one with some good serving. Our opponents were quite vulnerable today, especially at reception”, Branik Maribor’s outside-hitter Anita Sobocan explained.
In the men’s competition Jihostroj CESKE BUDEJOVICE (CZE) blew a two-set lead in their final match this season, losing the clash with TRENTINO Itas (ITA) 2-3 (25-21, 25-22, 15-25, 22-25, 11-15) on Wednesday. As a result, the Czechs dropped to a 2-4 win-loss record. ACH Volley LJUBLJANA (SLO) had to cope with a home loss in the tie-breaker as well. The multiple MEVZA League gold-medallists suffered a 2-3 (18-25, 25-20, 25-23, 18-25, 11-15) defeat at the hands of Fakel NOVY URENGOY (RUS) and missed the chance to end their Champions League campaign win the second win this season.
In the women’s CEV Cup quarter-finals Grupa Azoty Chemik POLICE (POL) left no chance to hosts Mladost ZAGREB (CRO), cruising to a commanding 3-0 (25-19, 25-13, 25-16) away win in the first-leg match.
In the first leg of the women’s Challenge Cup quarter-finals, Swietelsky BÉKÉSCSABA (HUN) suffered a 1-3 (26-24, 23-25, 19-25, 23-25) home defeat against Olympiacos PIRAEUS (GRE). Austria’s reigning national champions Askö LINZ-STEG (AUT), on the other hand, were dispatched by THY ISTANBUL 0-3 (14-25, 17-25, 15-25) on home soil.
Results European Cups
CEV Champions League Volley 2020 – Women Pool Play (Leg 6)
18.02.: C.S.M. Volei Alba BLAJ (ROU) vs. Vasas Óbuda BUDAPEST (HUN) 3-0 (25-23, 25-16, 25-21)
18.02.: Nova KBM Branik MARIBOR (SLO) vs. Savino Del Bene SCANDICCI (ITA) 1-3 (25-23, 20-25, 20-25, 14-25)
CEV Champions League Volley 2020 – Men Pool Play (leg 6)
19.02.: Jihostroj CESKE BUDEJOVICE (CZE) vs. TRENTINO Itas (ITA) 2-3 (25-21, 25-22, 15-25, 22-25, 11-15)
19.02.: ACH Volley LJUBLJANA (SLO) vs. Fakel NOVY URENGOY (RUS) 2-3 (18-25, 25-20, 25-23, 18-25, 11-15)
CEV Volleyball Cup 2020 – Women, quarter-finals (leg 1)
20.02.: Mladost ZAGREB (CRO) vs. Grupa Azoty Chemik POLICE (POL) 0-3 (19-25, 13-25, 16-25)
CEV Volleyball Challenge Cup 2020 – Women, quarter-finals (leg 1)
18.02.: Swietelsky BÉKÉSCSABA (HUN) vs. Olympiacos PIRAEUS (GRE) 1-3 (26-24, 23-25, 19-25, 23-25)
20.02.: Askö LINZ-STEG (AUT) vs. THY ISTANBUL (TUR) 0-3 (14-25, 17-25, 15-25)
Men’s MEVZA League, regular season
22.02., 19:00: SK Zadruga AICH/DOB (AUT) vs. OK Mladost Ribola KASTELA (CRO)
22.02., 19:00: OK Mladost BRCKO (BIH) vs. Union Raiffeisen WALDVIERTEL (AUT)
Final Four participants: ACH Volley LJUBLJANA (SLO), Mladost ZAGREB (CRO) Calcit Volley KAMNIK (SLO), hosts Union Raiffeisen WALDVIERTEL (AUT)
PHOTOS © CEV
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