Kazan took Berlin – Kommersant

Volleyball Champions League

Russia has extended a series of triumphs in the main European Cup volleyball up to four in a row thanks to the “Zenith”. Kazan club flawlessly held in Berlin “Final Four” of the Champions League, crowning his performance in it trehsetovom victory over Polish “Rzeszów”.

It was the third success of the Kazan team in the most prestigious club tournament and the second – in the framework of the outstanding Russian series, which “Zenith” is actually opened. In 2012, in Lodz, he coped in the Champions League final with the Polish “tailor” and brought an end to a series of failures three seasons of domestic clubs near approaches to the trophy. And after that went the band of a different kind. In 2013, in the Champions League succeeded in Novosibirsk “Locomotive”, in 2014 – Belgorod “Belogorie” … Now again came finest hour “Zenith”, whose next notable success in the first place, of course, by how confidently marched Kazan to his trophy.

They are, of course, and before the start of the tournament quoted very high – as one of the main contenders for the title. They do not hide the fact that terribly want to return it yourself. A year ago, the “Zenith” it did not work (it has stumbled in the “Final Four”, finishing last in it) seems to be exclusively due to the modest little depth in comparison, for example, with the same Belgorod bench. In the current draw from it all was in order as part of a scattering of Russian celebrities, plus just four legionnaires – Cuban Wilfredo Leon, Iranian Said Marouf, American Matt Anderson and Theodore Bulgarian Salparov, despite the fact that two out of the cruel Russian domestic limit in any matches except the European Cup, had no right to participate. Still, even with a fine selection of players, the presence on the bench of the full-grown coach Vladimir Alekno, the performance of “Zenith” my bulldozer power impressed.

Champions League – it is a long race. Competition, in the course of which are supposed to be any team in decline, albeit tiny. So the “Zenith” has not experienced a single!

His statistics look phenomenal. In the group stage – and lost zero points, and sets lost in six games. In the first round of the play-off – two to win the match in zeroing in on the “Final Four” of the Italian “Piacenza”. In the second round – a convincing revenge over just vybivshim “Belogorie” Turkish “Halkbank” club, try on favoritskie clothes, tailored as “Zenith”, entirely of stellar material.

A Berlin quartet’s strongest competition turned into zenitovsky benefit, a demonstration of his power in this elite company. After the German “Final Four” accept it “Berlin” should probably be placed in the club museum photo with a final score of his semi-final against the “Zenith”. Robbed them in Kazan set really pulled on a major achievement. “Rzeszów” in the final match and failed to create it, though, after he broke on the eve of a much more vivid on behalf of the Polish club – “SKRU”, it seemed that the “Zenith” is finally faced with this threat.

The strangest thing that, strictly speaking, “Rzeszow” yesterday looked no worse than in the previous match. His performance was worthy of excellent epithets – sverhdistsiplinirovannaya, almost without hypocrisy. But if to break the “SKRU”, that was enough, at the “Zenith” is a game not worked. In “Rzeszów” segments were good when he collected a handful of points, getting ahead – in the middle of the home party, early in the third. But at some point, the role of catch-up “Zenith” bored. Exploded its leaders – Maxim Mikhailov, Nikolai Apalikov, Leon Anderson. Alekno produced with his long benches fresh characters. The situation seems to be favored by “Rzeszow” flipped upside down, and the suspicion that the “Zenith” is about may allow him to escape from the grip of steel, turned out to be an illusion. In reality, Kazan leash was too short and strong enough to rivals could not dream what about the turn – the real, with mutual chances, end the set.

Alex Armor

“Final Four” in Berlin

 

 

1/2 finals. “Zenith” (Russia) – “Berlin” (Germany) 3: 1 (26:24, 21:25, 25:22, 25:15). “Rzeszow” (Poland) – “Skra” (Poland) 3: 0 (25:23, 25:23, 25:22).

 

Match for third place. “Berlin” – “Skra” 3: 2 (25:21, 19:25, 25:20, 26:28, 23:21).

 

Final. “Zenith” – “Rzeszow” 3: 0 (25:22, 25:23, 25:21) .