NOT AUSTRIA’S DAY

Men's Indesit European Champions League 2004/05

Ivan Contreras (Knack ROESELARE) aiming to block the attack by Stanislav Dineikine (Dinamo MOSCOW)

Luxembourg, December 1, 2004. With PARIS Volley, JASTRZEBSKI Wegiel, VfB FRIEDRICHSHAFEN and Sisley TREVISO having won their matches of the fifth week in the Men’s Indesit European Champions’ League 2004/05 League Round yesterday another four winners were decided today, namely Bulgarian Levski Siconco SOFIA, Russian Dinamo MOSCOW, Lokomotiv BELGOROD and SCC BERLIN.

The first surprise happened in Pool B when Bulgarian Levski Siconco SOFIA overthrew the yet undefeated hotVolleys from the Austrian capital VIENNA in straight sets, which was also the host team’s first home victory to date. The hosts began the match with strong serving and blocking, taking a 16-9 lead. Profiting from the Austrian team’s several mistakes Levski continued booking points in the second set before VIENNA caught up to equalise at 12-12 with Antunovic, Djordjevic and Lippitsch playing outstandingly. However, the Bulgarians didn’t lose their nerves and accelerated once again with strong serves and attacks by Uchikov and Aleksiev, taking home the second set 25-22. After 5-5 in the third and final set successful blocks by SOFIA allowed them to finish off the match after 63 minutes of play in three straight sets (25-20). “This was definitely not the match we expected to play in Sofia”, commented VIENNA’s captain Gerald Reiser, “I hope that we will play differently and more successfully in Vienna.” “I congratulate Levski on their good play”, added Gheorghe Cretu, VIENNA’s head coach, “We had a weak reception and serve so we need to analyse our mistakes and work on them.” The captain of SOFIA, Kostadin Stoykov, was satisfied, stating: “We finally showed the play that we also tried to achieve in the previous rounds, which means good reception and serving.” “Our players performed excellently, but it will be more difficult playing this way in Vienna”, said the home team’s head coach Lubomir Gerasimov.
Carrying on their winning streak in Pool D are Russian Dinamo MOSCOW who have booked two wins in three straight sets and one tiebreak win against Italian Copra Volley PIACENZA so far. Their opponent from Belgium, Knack ROESELARE, was to be the Russians fourth three-set-defeat victim. Even though the guest team from Belgium took the first led (6-8) the home players caught up to balance 8-8, keeping the set tight (17-17) until Dineikine extended the Russian lead to 21-17. Khtey and Daquin added strong performances to secure the 1:0-lead. Dinamo began the second set more successful (5-2, 7-3) with Ushakov and Daquin blocking resistant, however, Knack followed close thanks to Contreras (7-6, 8-7, 9-8). Rom then on the Muscovites took over the game, continuously widening the gap (19-12, 21-13) to take home the second set 25-19. The final set saw a turn of tables when the Belgian team with Contreras and Kristof kept on scoring (16-20, 19-22). In the east moment though Dinamo took the initiative and equalled at 22-22. Not being able to make use of their one and only set point (23-24) Knack ROESELARE had to accept their second defeat. “Dinamo is definitely the strongest team in our group”, stated Knack’s coach Dominique Baeyens, “I am disappointed though that we didn’t manage to win the third set as this is very important for the teams who are fighting for second place in Pool D.” MOSCOW’s coach Boris Kolchin commented after the match: “We had absolutely no idea what kind of team Knack was, however, it’s much more interesting playing on blind. The Belgians played very deep in defence with a very strong opposite Ivan Contreras.”
The defending champion from Russia, Lokomotiv BELGOROD, faced problems in the first set against Noliko MAASEIK which took place in the Expodroom Bree in front of more than 3’500 spectators. Even though the Belgian underdog had three set points they couldn’t profit from them, finally conceding the first set 27-29. The second set continued balanced (4-4, 8-8, 10-11) when BELGOROD gained the decisive advantage for 17-20 thanks to strong attacks by Baranov and Kosarev. Even though MAASEIK managed to close the gap to 20-21 the Russians proved stronger in rallies and serving with Vadim Khamuttskikh finishing the second set 20-25. Performing more effective blocks and attacks the Russian guests went on securing set three and the final victory, jumping onto second place in Pool A behind yet undefeated Iraklis THESSALONIKI (GRE). “We had the opportunity to take at least one set”, exclaimed Noliko’s setter Vital Heynen, “but we weren’t able to reduce our own mistakes.”
The final match of today was BERLIN’s third tiebreaker in Pool C, this time against Hypo Tirol INNSBRUCK from Austria. Having lost the first two sets (21, 19) the Germans fought back amazingly to equal at 2:2. Even though INNSBRUCK was leading the tiebreak set (13-11) and the Austrian fans were behind them they didn’t manage to finish off the match in their favour so that BERLIN profited, securing their first match point to win the tiebreak (13-15), hence overtaking Unicaja ALMERIA to take third position in Pool C. “Berlin realised that a game is not over after two sets”, stated Tirol’s head coach Zanini after the match, “I’m very disappointed and angry because we stopped performing after having played so good during the first two sets. It was a nice Christmas present for Berlin!” “Hypo Tirol is a top team”, exclaimed Berlin’s 20-year old spiker Robert Kromm, “We came back by concentrating on what we’re best at and that is serving.”

Men’s Indesit European Champions League 2004/05, Pool rounds, 5^th leg
Wednesday, December 1, 2004

Preliminary Pool A

Noliko MAASEIK (BEL) - Lokomotiv BELGOROD (RUS)

0:3

27-29, 20-25, 21-25

Preliminary Pool B

Levski Siconco SOFIA (BUL) - Aon hotVolleys VIENNA (AUT)

3:0

25-19, 25-22, 25-20

Preliminary Pool C

Hypo Tirol INNSBRUCK (AUT) - SCC BERLIN (GER)

2:3

25-21, 25-19, 16-25, 21-25, 13-15

Preliminary Pool D

Dinamo MOSCOW (RUS) - Knack ROESELARE (BEL)

3:0

25-20, 25-19, 26-24

To view the women’s fourth week results please click here.

More on the net (including live scores, statistics, match reports, photos and other information) at www.cev.lu

Confédération Européenne de Volleyball

NOT AUSTRIA’S DAY

Men's Indesit European Champions League 2004/05

Preliminary Pool A

Preliminary Pool B