EXPERIENCED TEAMS DOMINATE OPENING MATCHES

Indesit European Champions' League 2004/05

Luxembourg, November 4, 2004. On the second day of the Men’s Indesit European Champions’ League 2004/05 the remaining matches of the first leg were played with Noliko MAASEIK (BEL), TOURS VB (FRA), Sisley TREVISO (ITA) gaining the upper hand over their pool opponents.

The second day started with the Pool A encounter between Polska Energia SOSNOWIEC from Poland and the favourite Noliko MAASEIK from Belgium who have climbed the podium three times in the past (1997, 1999, 2000). “It’s true that we are not as experienced as our group rivals”, commented the home team’s coach Marion Kardas before the match, “however, we’ll do our best to fight for each ball and each set.” From the first minutes on Noliko dominated the game with strong serving and an attacking game that forced the Polish into defense. In the second set the hosts were more determined but again increasing mistakes allowed Noliko MAASEIK to take the lead and book the second set 25-16. Dominating the game until the end whilst also profiting from the inconsistency of their opponent’s game the Belgian team, coached by Anders Kristiansson, went on to win the third set 25-17, celebrating a first clear set defeat. "Reception was our biggest problem today", commented Marian Kardas, the Polish team coach, after the match, "so it turned out that we weren't strong enough to compete with Noliko." On the other side the Belgians "hardly made any mistakes and played well in block", as Noliko's setter Vital Heynen stated, "which all resulted in our victory."
In Pool C last year’s bronze medallist TOURS VB faced a hard-fighting opponent in the novice Tyrolean team Hypo Tirol INNSBRUCK from Austria. “There are no easy opponents in our pool, they all have big names”, analysed the Austrian team coach Emanuele Zanini, “However, I believe in us being able to surprise.” Supported by their home team the Austrians resisted strongly. Even though the French favourite dominated on the scoreboard Hypo Tirol INNSBRUCK were close behind losing the first set by only two points difference (23-25). Getting off to a better start in the second set TOURS VB went on leading but not convincingly. The Tyroleans came close at 18-19 but then TOURS VB stormed off to win the second set with an aggressive blocking action by Gérald Hardy-Dessources on set point (25-22). The beginning of the third set was balanced (4-4) until the French increased their lead to a maximum of nine points (15-6, 18-9, 20-11, 24-15) before booking their first victory in the fifth edition of the Indesit European Champions’ League. “This victory against a very strong and resisting team is very important to us”, commented TOURS VB team captain Loic De Kergret after the match, “A good start into the European season prepares the team well for the upcoming high level encounters in the Indesit European Champions’ League as well as in the national French championships.” In the other Pool C encounter Unicaja ALMERIA from Spain faced Italian champion Sisley TREVISO, who lost in the playoff round of the 2003/04 edition to French TOURS VB, at home in the Rafael Florido Sport Centre of Almeria. Losing the first two sets the Spaniards managed to win the third 25-18 before losing the fourth and final set by the same score. "It has been a very difficult match but nevertheless we played very well", resumed Unicaja ALMERIA team coach Mr. Molducci the performance of his players after the defeat.

Whilst the men head off into the second leg next week starting on Tuesday, 9 November 2004, the women will start their League Round on Wednesday, 10 November 2004.

Men’s Indesit European Champions League 2004/05, Pool rounds, 1^st leg
Wednesday, November 4, 2004

Preliminary Pool A

Polska Energia SOSNOWIEC (POL) - Noliko MAASEIK (BEL)

0-3

19-25, 16-25, 17-25

Preliminary Pool C

TOURS VB (FRA) - Hypo Tirol INNSBRUCK (AUT)	3-0	25-23, 25-22, 25-15
Unicaja ALMERIA (ESP) - Sisley TREVISO (ITA)	1-3	23-25, 18-25, 25-18, 18-25

For further match information please view www.cev.lu/Volleyball/EuropeanCups/Indesit European Champions League/Results.

More on the web at www.cev.lu

Enjoy & Be There:
2-4 November 2004: Indesit European Champions League Men, 1st leg League Round, Various.
9-11 November 2004: Indesit European Champions League Women 1st leg, Men 2nd leg, League Round, Various.
9-11 November 2004: Austrian Airlines Top Teams Cup Men, 1st leg League Round, Various.
9-11 November 2004: Top Teams Cup Women, 1st leg, League Round, Various.
12-14 November 2004: CEV Cup Men & Women, 2nd round tournaments, Various.
16-18 November 2004: Indesit European Champions League Women 2nd leg, Men 3rd leg, League Round, Various.
16-18 November 2004: Austrian Airlines Top Teams Cup Men, 2nd leg League Round, Various.
16-18 November 2004: Top Teams Cup Women, 2nd leg, League Round, Various.
23-25 November 2004: Indesit European Champions League Women 3rd leg, Men 4th leg, League Round, Various.
23-25 November 2004: Austrian Airlines Top Teams Cup Men, 3rd leg League Round, Various.
23-25 November 2004: Top Teams Cup Women, 3rd leg, League Round, Various.
27 November 2004: Women’s Senior European Championships 2005 Final Round Drawing of Lots, Zagreb, Croatia.
30 November - 2 December 2004: Indesit European Champions League Women 4th leg, Men 5th leg, League Round, Various.
30 November - 2 December 2004: Austrian Airlines Top Teams Cup Men, 4th leg League Round, Various.
30 November - 2 December 2004: Top Teams Cup Women, 4th leg, League Round, Various.
7-9 December 2004: Indesit European Champions League Women 5th leg, Men 6th leg, League Round, Various.
7-9 December 2004: Austrian Airlines Top Teams Cup Men, 5th leg League Round, Various.
7-9 December 2004:Top Teams Cup Women, 5th leg, League Round, Various.
7-9 December 2004: CEV Cup Men & Women, 1/8 final, Home matches.