Hungarian sensation ready for re-match with BLAJ in CEV Challenge Cup semis

Kaposvar, Hungary. The players of 1. MCM-Diamant KAPOSVAR will not have an easy task on Wednesday afternoon, when they play the re-match of their CEV Volleyball Challenge Cup semi-final with C.S.M. Volei Alba BLAJ of Romania.

The first clash in Targu Mure? ended in a clear 3-0 victory for the hosts, who, since 2011, have claimed the Romanian national league and national cup titles as many as five and three times, respectively. Back in 2018, the players coached by Darko Zakoc reached the final of the elite CEV Champions League and a year later claimed the silver medal from the CEV Cup. After last week’s home victory, one of their key players, Ioana Maria Baciu, made it clear that they would travel to Hungary to win again. However, the players of Diamant will be trying to make the advantage of playing on home turf count at the Kaposvar Arena.

“Personally, I am really looking forward to the home match, but I think I can speak on behalf of the whole team, because we want to show what we are really capable of,” says young middle blocker Alíz Kump. “In the previous match in Targu Mure?, it did not quite work out for us. We have to fight for each other and get out of our comfort zone, as we do during the training sessions. If we get the most out of ourselves, this match can be a great preparation for the semi-final of the national cup against Békéscsaba on March 13.”

C.S.M. Volei Alba BLAJ started their journey to Hungary on Monday, but they spent the night in Arad and arrived in Kaposvar on Tuesday afternoon. Soon after, they had their first training. Their roster includes a member of the Hungarian women’s national team, setter Réka Bleicher.

According to the CEV Competitions Regulations, the teams in the semis must play on Taraflex, and eight members of staff worked on preparing a perfect court at the Kaposvár Arena on Tuesday night.

The good news is that everyone from 1. MCM-Diamant KAPOSVAR is healthy and ready to battle with their Romanian opponents for a spot in the final of this year’s Challenge Cup.