Zenit Kazan looking to extend winning streak in third leg of 2012 CEV Champions League
Kazan based Russian men’s volleyball team, Zenit Kazan, is scheduled to resume the volleyball action in the third phase of the 2012 CEV European Champions League Prelims on Wednesday, December 14. So far, the Russians have proved their endeavours in the
season and have a winning streak of nine matches during the combined record of national league and prelims of 2012 CEV Volleyball Champions League.
They will return to action in the upcoming home match on Wednesday and Euphony ASSE-LENNIK of Belgium will join the competition as the visiting team. Zenit Kazan is now looking to extend its winning streak by defeating Belgium.
Some of players are back in the club after giving tremendous success to the national team at 2011 FIVB World Cup, where Russia earned the gold medal and also qualified for the 2012 London Olympic Games. Maxim Mikhaylov, Nikolay Apalikov, Alexander VolkovEvgeny
Sivozhelez and libero Alexey Obmochaev represent Russia at the international event and returned from Japan, last week. They are enjoying top form and now they will use their experience in the next game against Euphony ASSE-LENNIK.
Likewise, the American Reid Priddy, who was formerly a part of Zenit Kazan, has also returned to the team. He participated in the World Cup with the US squad, which eventually finished in sixth place. Nonetheless, Priddy showcased an incredible show of volleyball
and led his team to success many a time. Since he is also back with Zenit Kazan, the roster of Russian team is solid. They are indeed one of the toughest teams on the forum.
However, Head Coach Vladimir Alekno stressed the need to stay focused on victory and play with real spirit against the Belgian team. He said: “We have to change our priority from the national team to the club. Our players are in a different state; some have
enough of Volleyball after the busy weeks with the World Cup while some others have only trained and not played at all for one month. I hope this will not affect our performance with Euphony. There are no weak rivals in the Champions League, so we have to
be ready for a real fight”
Zenit Kazan has done well in the previous two matches of European campaign and it has fair chances of winning the next game. Euphony, on the other hand, dropped its last match to Noliko MAASEIK in the national league. They will be required to put up a valiant
effort, in order to fight the challenge. Russia is likely to win the match with robust fan support at home.
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