ACH Volley LJUBLJANA celebrated a very hard-fought 3-2 (25-23, 25-16, 25-27, 23-25, 19-17) home win in 144 minutes against Russia’s national champions Kuzbass KEMEROVO from Russia in the second leg of the men’s CEV Champions League group stage on Wednesday evening. Slovenia’s dominant team for several years and MEVZA League title holders improved their win-loss record to 1-1.
“We left our heart on the court. It is a shame that we were not able to win third or fourth set. We were so close, but we did not serve and receive as good as in the first two. However, we made two big points that nobody expected but us players and the whole team we believed in this victory”, Ach Volley’s outside spiker Jan Pokersnik said.
PHOTO © CEV
Already on Tuesday, Austria’s reigning national champions SK Zadruga AICH/DOB started their CEV Cup campaign with a 3-2 (25-23, 17-25, 25-22, 25-27, 15-7) away victory over hosts VK OSTRAVA (CZE). “The game was as difficult as we knew it would be. In the fifth set, my players showed mental strength and moved to 7-1, that was the preliminary decision. We have achieved an important win on international stage against a really tough opponent. But in the second leg of the sixteenthfinals upcoming Wednesday, we have to be on alert because Ostrava is a very, very strong team”, AICH/DOB Sports Director Martin Micheu explained.
On Wednesday, Mladost Brcko (BiH) emerged victorious from their clash with LAUSANNE UC (SUI), routing the hosts 3-1 (25-23, 23-25, 25-18, 25-20).
PHOTO © CEV
In the men’s Challenge Cup KLADNO Volejbal (CZE) secured a 3-2 (20, 27-25, 14-25, 25-22, 15-11) away win at SCM U CRAIOVA (ROU) on Tuesday, while hosts Penzugyor BUDAPEST (HUN) left no chance to Omonia NICOSIA (CYP), winning 3-0 (25-19, 25-23, 25-15). VK CEZ KARLOVARSKO (CZE) needed four sets to overcome Stroitel MINSK (BLR) 3-1 (16-25, 25-19, 25-20, 25-20). Calcit Volley KAMNIK (SLO) claimed a 3-1 (25-18, 25-15, 23-25, 25-20) victory over SC Portugal LISBOA (POR) on home soil.
The results of the Middle European teams playing in the European Cups this week
CEV Champions League Volley 2020 – Men
4th Round (Pools), 2nd Leg
11.12.: ACH Volley Ljubljana (SLO) vs. Kuzbass Kemerovo (RUS) 3-2 (25-23, 25-16, 25-27, 23-25, 19-17)
12.12.: Jihostroj Ceske Budejovice (CZE) vs. Cucine Lube Civitanova (ITA) 1-3 (18-25, 25-21, 13-25, 22-25)
CEV Volleyball Cup 2020 – Men
16th finals, home matches
10.12.: VK Ostrava (CZE) vs. SK Zadruga Aich/Dob (AUT) 2-3 (23-25, 25-17, 22-25, 27-25, 7-15)
11.12.: Galatasaray HDI Istanbul (TUR) vs. Dukla Liberec (CZE) 3-1 (25-18, 20-25, 25-17, 25-19)
11.12.: Lausanne UC (SUI) vs. Mladost Brcko (BiH) 1-3 (23-25, 25-23, 18-25, 20-25)
CEV Volleyball Challenge Cup 2020 – Men
16th finals, home matches
10.12.: SCM U Craiova (ROU) vs. Kladno Volejbal cz (CZE) 2-3 (25-20, 25-27, 25-14, 22-25, 11-15)
10.12.: VK CEZ Karlovarsko (CZE) vs. Stroitel Minsk (BLR) 3-1 (16-25, 25-19, 25-20, 25-20)
10.12.: Penzugyor Budapest (HUN) vs. Omonia Nicosia (CYP) 3-0 (25-19, 25-23, 25-15)
11.12.: Fino Kaposvar (HUN) vs. SAMEN Lycurgus Groningen (NED) 1-3 (25-18, 20-25, 26-28, 22-25)
11.12.: Calcit Volley Kamnik (SLO) vs. SC Portugal Lisboa (POR) 3-1 (25-18, 25-15, 23-25, 25-20)
11.12.: Unicaja Costa de Almeria (ESP) vs. UVC Holding Graz (AUT) 3-0 (25-22, 25-23, 25-11)
12.12.: Parnu VK (EST) vs. Mladost Ribola Kastela (CRO) 3-1 (25-18, 17-25, 25-10, 25-23)
12.12.: Buducnost Podgorica (MNE) vs. VKP SPU Nitra (SVK) 3-2 (25-17, 19-25, 21-25, 25-20, 15-12)
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