CEV Cup action resumes with Bekescsaba and Brno to compete for the 8th and quarterfinals

Monza, Italy. Action in the 2021 edition of the women’s CEV Volleyball Cup will resume on Tuesday afternoon in Monza, Italy, where a ‘bubble tournament’ initially planned for early December will be taking place with participation of four teams. Hosts Saugella MONZA will be playing against Swietelsky BÉKÉSCSABA of Hungary in the first of two 8th Final matches, followed later in the evening by the clash between ŽOK UB of Serbia and VK Šelmy BRNO of the Czech Republic. 

This is the third participation of Saugella MONZA in the European Cups, as they won the 2019 edition of the CEV Challenge Cup before last year they contested the CEV Cup where they lost to Dinamo KAZAN of Russia in the 8th Finals. Saugella MONZA are yet to play an international match this season since they enjoyed a walkover in the previous round of the CEV Cup following the withdrawal of Viteos NEUCHATEL UC (SUI). If they manage to beat the Hungarians, the Italians will be playing the winners of the other 8th Final fixture for a spot in the semis. 

Saugella MONZA have an impressive record of 12 straight wins in the Italian national league, where they sit in third place, four points behind Igor Gorgonzola NOVARA, but with one match less than the CEV Champions League titleholders. Their opponent from Hungary is a five-time national champion, two-time winner of the MEVZA League and the dominant force in women’s Volleyball in their home country over the last decade. They travel to Italy on an impressive record of 11 wins and one loss only in their national league this far. 

“We are very happy to finally be able to play the CEV Cup, given that we should have contested this match back in December,” says Saugella MONZA outside hitter Edina Begic. “We are expecting a close match against a very well-organised opponent. They have been achieving good results in their national league. There will certainly be some differences compared to our matches in the Serie A1, starting from the fact that it is a bubble and we play a single match in each round. We obviously miss our fans but we know how to deal with this type of competition: we will try to give our best and please everyone following us through the live streaming.” 

Live streaming of the matches in Monza is available on EuroVolleyTV as well as on the official YouTube channel of Saugella MONZA. 

There is another ‘bubble’ due to take place this week to complete the programme of the 8th Finals and quarterfinals in the CEV Cup. However, after the withdrawals of SC POTSDAM and Nova KBM Branik MARIBOR, only one match will be taking place in Istanbul, with Galatasaray HDI ISTANBUL and DRESDNER SC of Germany battling for a spot in the semis on Wednesday, January 27 at 7 pm local time.

News:
CEV – European Volleyball
HUN – Hungarian Volleyball Federation
VK Selmy Brno
BRSE