Russian club Zenit Kazan sending six players to 2011 FIVB World Cup – Volleyball News
The 2011 FIVB Men’s Volleyball World Cup is just around the corner as the competition is set to take place in Japan from November 20 to December 4. Twelve teams from various parts of the world will join the battle for volleyball supremacy. Athletes, who
have been attached with different local and foreign clubs, have returned to their national teams.
This year, Russian top volleyball club Zenit Kazan is sending six players in the competition. Five athletes will stay in the Russian team, while one player will join the American squad. Following six players of Zenit Kazan have been confirmed to participate
in the FIVB World Cup:
Alexander Volkov – Russia Nikolay Apalikov - Russia Maxim Mikhaylov - Russia Evgeny Sivozhelez - Russia Alexey Obmochaev - Russia William Reid Priddy - USA
Russian national team will be headed by talented coach, Vladimir Alekno. He will be defending Russia’s honour at the upcoming international event. He has selected five players from the top Russian club, Zenit Kazan. When it comes to quality volleyball in
Russia, there are two renowned clubs; Zenit Kazan and Belogorie Belgorod. Alekno himself coaches for Zenit Kazan and he preferred to include five players from his own club.
Alexander Volkov and Nikolay Apalikov will play as middle blockers, Maxim Mikhaylov and Evgeny Sivozhelez will stand as the spikers, while Alexey Obmochaev will perform his duties as the first libero of the Russian team. Obmochaey will make his debut with
the senior national team at the World Cup. Vladimir Alekno is very much fond of Alexey’s extra ordinary skills and that’s the obvious reason to put Alexey on the team-roster. Quite recently, Alekno passed healthy remarks about Alexey. He stated: “Alexey is
a talented guy and he should be given a chance.” He further added: “The tournament is very long. To play 11 matches over 15 days always with the same line-up is almost impossible”.
Zenit Kazan’s captain, William Reid Priddy, will go back to the US national team.
Russian team will open the tournament on November 20th by taking on defending champion Italy. The Italians have also 2011 European Championship in the running season. It will be nail-biting competition as both teams share great rivalry. Later
on Russia will also play against China and U.S. A. in the first round.
During the FIVB World Cup, while the five key players of Zenit Kazan will be gone, the assistant coach Alexander Serebrennikov will take care of rest of the players. Remaining players will continue the preparations for the re-start of the Russian Championship
scheduled for December 11. Zenit Kazan has outstanding record at the national championship. It comes on the top in standings.
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