2017 Champions League
In the opening game of the Champions League group phase, Civitanova stumbled in Berlin on a 3-1 score. Blengini’s men clinched the first set rather easily but the Germans fought back with some superb blocking and serving. The second and third set were one-way traffic while the italians failed to seal the fourth when it could.
Modena went through all sorts of trouble to finally overcome the challenge of Ljubljana at the tie-break. In spite of a good start, the Italians found it hard to put aside the Slovenians. The serve was not as sharp as usual and the reception was at fault. Still, this remains a valuable win for Petric and co, especially considering the surprising result of Belchatow in Craiova.
Much more satisfying the debut of Perugia, who came back from Ankara with a stunning 3-0 triumph, which made it seven wins in a row and only one set lost. They were on fire in attack (63%) and had some good serves (6 aces, 2 each from Atanasijevic and Podrascanin), and solid blocking (8).
Results
CEV Champions League – 1a giornata Andata 4th Round
POOL A
Dinamo Moscow (RUS) – Noliko Maaseik (BEL) 3-1 (25-22, 23-25, 25-22, 25-20)
Zaksa Kedzierzyn-Kozle (POL) – Istanbul BBSK (TUR) 3-0 (25-12, 28-26, 29-27)
Standings: Zaksa Kedzierzyn-Kozle (POL) 3, Dinamo Moscow (RUS) 3, Noliko Maaseik (BEL) 0, Istanbul BBSK (TUR) 0
POOL B
Berlin Recycling Volleys (GER) – Cucine Lube Civitanova (ITA) 3-1 (21-25, 25-16, 25-18, 26-24)
Dukla Liberec (CZE) – Asseco Resovia Rzeszow (POL) 2-3 (14-25, 16-25, 25-21, 25-23, 15-17)
standings: Berlin Recycling Volleys (GER) 3, Asseco Resovia Rzeszow (POL) 2, Dukla Liberec (CZE) 1, Cucine Lube Civitanova (ITA) 0
POOL C
Paris Volley (FRA) – VfB Friedrichshafen (GER) 2-3 (25-22, 26-24, 18-25, 18-25, 13-15)
Arkas Izmir (TUR) – Zenit Kazan (RUS) 0-3 (14-25, 11-25, 17-25)
standings: Zenit Kazan (RUS) 3, VfB Friedrichshafen (GER) 2, Paris Volley (FRA) 1, Arkas Izmir (TUR) 0
POOL D
Azimut Modena (ITA) – ACH Volley Ljubljana (SLO) 3-2 (25-22, 21-25, 25-19, 23-25, 15-11)
S.C.M. “U” Craiova (ROU) – PGE Skra Belchatow (POL) 3-1 (30-28, 25-23, 19-25, 25-22)
standings: S.C.M. “U” Craiova (ROU) 3, Azimut Modena (ITA) 2, ACH Volley Ljubljana (SLO) 1, PGE Skra Belchatow (POL) 0
POOL E
Halkbank Ankara (TUR) – Sir Sicoma Colussi Perugia (ITA) 0-3 (19-25, 23-25, 23-25)
Knack Roeselare (BEL) – Belogorie Belgorod (RUS) 2-3 (25-27, 20-25, 25-19, 25-19, 13-15)
standings: Sir Sicoma Colussi Perugia (ITA) 3, Belogorie Belgorod (RUS) 2, Knack Roeselare (BEL) 1, Halkbank Ankara (TUR) 0
Fixtures
CEV Champions League – Round 2
Tuesday 20 December at 5.30pm
POOL D
PGE Skra Belchatow (POL) – Azimut Modena (ITA)
(Fernandez Fuentes-Georgiev)
8.30pm
POOL B
Cucine Lube Civitanova (ITA) – Dukla Liberec (CZE)
(Di Giacomo-Mokry)
Thursday 22 December at 8.30pm
POOL E
Sir Sicoma Colussi Perugia (ITA) – Knack Roeselare (BEL)
(Van Gompel-Twardowski)
2017 CEV Cup
Piacenza got off to a positive start after a season out of European action. They had the better of Minsk on a 3-1 score.The Byelorussians coached by Sinhayeuski played with determination hoping to get a win after the disappointing ousting of the Champions League at the golden set. It’s been tough for Piacenza in a game that lasted nearly two hours. Piacenza had the better serves (11 aces), Minsk were stronger in the blocking department (15 blocks). Reception and attack were close.
32nd of finals first leg
LPR Piacenza (ITA) – Stroitel Minsk (BLR) 3-1 (26-24, 30-28, 21-25, 25-22)
Return leg
Tuesday 20 December at 4pm (Italian time)
Stroitel Minsk (BLR) – LPR Piacenza (ITA)
(Janik-Hagström)
