2016 CEV DenizBank Champions League
After the Verona qualification into the Challenge Cup final, more good news for Italy came from the Champions League. Both Trento and Civitanova made it to the Final Four (in Krakow) thanks to superb breakthroughs against Belgorod and Ankara respectively. According to the competition regulations, the two Italian teams will clash in the semi-finals, which is something that had already happened in 2009 when Trento had won its first trophy. This was also Civitanova’s last participation in a Final Four. In the other semi-final, there will be the hosts of Rzeszow against the winner of Belchatow (Pol) and Kazan (Rus). The Pols have a 3-2 lead from the first leg.
In its return leg, Trentino only needed two sets to go through but they went on to win at the tie-break in Russia. Its last participation in a final four was in 2012, when it lost against Kazan in the semi-finals. That was the end of a four-year period in which the Italians won the trophy three straight times.
Civitanova and Ankara gave it a great fight for over two hours. None of the two sides were ready to give up an inch to their opponents but in the end Ankara’s tie-break win sent it all to the Golden Set. That’s when captain Ivan Miljkovic took over and led Civitanova to a very difficult 17-15 win. Blengini’s men played every point as if it was the last, they showed great patience and proved mentally strong. Civitanova won the trophy in 2002 in Poland. This is their fourth participation in the Champions League.
Playoffs 6 return leg results:
Belogorie Belgorod (RUS) – Trentino Diatec (ITA) 2-3 (17-25, 25-21, 23-25, 25-22, 14-16)
Halkbank Ankara (TUR) – Cucine Lube Civitanova (ITA) 3-2 (27-29, 26-24, 25-22, 20-25, 15-13) Golden Set 15-17
PGE Skra Belchatow (POL) – Zenit Kazan (RUS) on Thursday 24 March at 6pm
Fixtures
2016 CEV Champions League
Final Four – Krakow (POL)
1st semi-final
Saturday 16 April (time to be revealed soon)
Winner of PGE Skra Belchatow (POL) vs Zenit Kazan (RUS) – Asseco Resovia Rzeszow (POL)
2nd semi-final
Staurday 16 April
Trentino Diatec (ITA) – Cucine Lube Civitanova (ITA)
Game for third place and final on Sunday 17.
Results:
Cucine Lube Banca Marche Civitanova – Ninfa Latina 3-0 (25-21, 25-17, 25-14)
DHL Modena – Tonazzo Padova 3-1 (25-18, 22-25, 25-15, 25-20)
Diatec Trentino – Exprivia Molfetta 3-0 (25-16, 32-30, 25-17)
Calzedonia Verona – Sir Safety Conad Perugia 3-2 (23-25, 25-22, 25-20, 20-25, 15-11)
LONGEST GAME: 02.13
Calzedonia Verona – Sir Safety Conad Perugia (3-2)
QUICKEST GAME: 01.14
Cucine Lube Banca Marche Civitanova – Ninfa Latina (3-0)
LONGEST SET: 00.36
2° Set (32-30) Diatec Trentino – Exprivia Molfetta
QUICKEST GAME: 00.23
3° Set (25-14) Cucine Lube Banca Marche Civitanova – Ninfa Latina
TEAM HIGHS
ATTACK: 61%
Cucine Lube Banca Marche Civitanova
RECEPTION: Perf. 42,2%
Cucine Lube Banca Marche Civitanova
BLOCKS: 17
Calzedonia Verona
POINTS: 82
Calzedonia Verona
ACES: 9
Diatec Trentino
INDIVIDUAL HIGHS
POINTS: 21
Aleksandar Atanasijevic (Sir Safety Conad Perugia)
Uros Kovacevic (Calzedonia Verona)
SPIKES: 18
Aleksandar Atanasijevic (Sir Safety Conad Perugia)
Denys Viktorovic Kaliberda (Sir Safety Conad Perugia)
ACES: 3
Aleksandar Atanasijevic (Sir Safety Conad Perugia)
Matey Kaziyski (Diatec Trentino)
BLOCKS: 6
Uros Kovacevic (Calzedonia Verona)
THE BESTS
Ivan MILJKOVIC (Cucine Lube Banca Marche Civitanova – Ninfa Latina)
Bruno MOSSA DE REZENDE (DHL Modena – Tonazzo Padova)
Matey KAZIYSKI (Diatec Trentino – Exprivia Molfetta)
Uros KOVACEVIC (Calzedonia Verona – Sir Safety Conad Perugia)
