Zarechie downs Besiktas to claim the first ever European trophy – Women’s Volleyball

Zarechie ODINTSOVO is the winner of the 2014 CEV Volleyball Challenge Cup - Women.  The Russian team defeated Turkey’s Besiktas ISTANBUL by 3:1 (25-23, 23-25, 25-23, 25-19) in the second leg of the final at the Burhan Felek volleyball hall by the Bosporus to triumph with its first ever European trophy.

Natalia Malykh contributed 24 points to the victory and became the best scorer of the match.  She was also crowned as the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the final.

Anastasia Bavykina added 17 points to Zarechie’s tally, including 3 aces and 5 kill blocks.  Besiktas’s top scorer was Paula Yamila Nizetich with 22 points.

The first set was very competitive through 9-9.  Then the Russians started gaining in the score opening a gap as wide as 17-12.  In the conclusive moments of the set, the home side crawled back up to save all of Zarechie’s set points, but the last one, and to lose by a narrow 23-25.

The second set was similar, but with the opposite sign.  Besiktas used the momentum from the end of the first part and the great performance by its blockers to establish a solid domination on the court and shoot up to a 13-3 lead.  At 23-15, it seemed that nothing could stop the Turks from winning the set, but the Russian blockers were not sleeping either.  Zarechie scored 6 points in a row to prompt an interesting ending, and then it saved the first two of Besiktas’s three set points before letting it go by the same score - 23-25.

In the third set, it was once again Zarechie’s turn to control the scoreboard.  The advantage of the Russian team never exceeded 3 points, but also Besiktas was never able to take the lead.  The home side played very well in offense and continued its great blocking efforts, but also committed far too many unforced errors.  Fair enough, the set ended at another 25-23, this time in Zarechie’s favor.

The fourth set was a completely different affair.  The visiting team made the final push for the victory and imposed its will on the court.  Vadim Pankov’s players were completely focused on their game and put a lot of precision into their performance.  The blockers continued to be Zarechie’s main weapon and all this combined led to a total control of the set and the final score of 25-19 that marked the historic moment for the club and got the Russian celebration started.

 “I am very happy right now,” emotional Ekaterina Kosianenko, captain of Zarechie, said after the match.  “My girls managed to win the match.  Congratulations to us all!  I want to present this cup to all Russian people. They are in my heart.”

Vadim Pankov, head coach of Zarechie, added:  “It was a very difficult match as I had said it would be.  Besiktas has a very good defense.  It is normal that this was a difficult match - it is final.  I am very happy to become the holder of the Challenge Cup. Congratulations to my team!”

FAP seized ninth position at the Men's African Club Championship – Volleyball News

Cameroon's FAP completed in 9th place in the ranking matches at the 2014 Men's African Club Championship after their victory against Kenya Prisons at Sousse Olympic Hall in Tunisia on Friday. 

FAP won the match in straight sets (25-14, 25-21, 25-21) to finish ninth, leaving the Kenyans in 10th place.

Ettihad Misurata (LIB) fought for more than two hours to clinch 11th place in a thrilling win against GSU (KEN) 3-2 (25-22, 26-24, 15-25, 22-25, 15-13).

Ittihad Tangier (MOR) cruised past Bafia (CMR) 3-0 (26-24, 25-21, 25-19) for 13th position, while Port Douala (CMR) clinched 15th place following an exciting victory over Espoire (COD) 3-2 (19-25, 18-25, 25-17, 25-23, 15-10).

Nemo Stars (UGA) defeated Beau Vallon (SEY) 3-1 (18-25, 25-16, 25-19, 25-20) to finish in 17th place, while Autoridade (MOZ) beat Nahda (SUD) 3-2 (15-25, 26-24, 25-16, 23-25, 15-10) to end the competition in 19th place, leaving the Sudanese in 20th place. Mugher Cement (ETH) were bottom at 21st. 

Final Standings

1.         TBD

2.         TBD

3.         TBD

4.         TBD

5.         TBD

6.         TBD

7.         TBD

8.         TBD

9.         FAP (Cameroon)

10.       Prisons (Kenya)

11.       Ettihad Misurata (Libya)

12.       GSU (Kenya)

13.       Ittihad Tangier (Morocco)

14.       Bafia (Cameroon)

15.       Port Douala (Cameroon)

16.       Espoire (Congo DR)

17.       Nemo Stars (Uganda)

18.       Beau Vallon (Seychelles)

19.       Auroridade (Mozambique)

20.       Nahda (Sudan)

21.       Mugher Cement (Ethiopia)

Finals programme for rankings 1-8 on March 29, 2014                                                                                                        

7-8  Ahly Tripoli (LIB) v AHLY Benighazi (LIB)                     

5-6 Stif (ALG) v          Borj B (ALG)  

3-4 Etoile (TUN) v Sfax (TUN)                      

1-2 Esperance (TUN) v Ahly (EGY)  

Joint Coaches Course takes place at Argentina and Uruguay – Volleyball News

The FIVB-FeVA Argentine Volleyball Regional Development Centre (CDRV) is hosting the first International Level 1 Coaches Course of 2014 organized jointly by the Argentine Volleyball Federation (FeVA) and the Uruguayan Volleyball Federation (FUV). 

The course is being held under the guidance of Ruben Sainz Rodriguez of Cuba and Spain’s Aurelio Ureña Espa.

This first activity of the year is part of a wide program of training aimed at developing volleyball across the southern part of the South American continent.

The course started on March 20 and will feature theory-based training classes carried out by both lecturers until March 31.

Mercury shines in Istanbul as Fenerbahce reaches out for CEV Cup

A thrilling volleyball fete planned for this afternoon at the Burhan Felek volleyball hall will conclude with the crucial final match of the 2014 CEV Volleyball Cup - Women.  Shortly after the end of the awarding ceremony to follow the 2014 CEV Volleyball Challenge Cup - Men final featuring Fenerbahçe Grundig ISTANBUL and Andreoli LATINA, the women’s volleyball team of the Turkish multi-sport powerhouse – Fenerbahce SK. ISTANBUL, will round off a memorable day for the fans in yellow and black by facing the Russian Uralochka-NTMK EKATERINBURG in a battle for Europe’s second-ranked club competition. 

The excitement by the Bosporus is certainly reaching record levels, as a third team from the Turkish megalopolis – Besiktas ISTANBUL, will also play a European final this weekend, entertaining Russia’s Zarechie ODINTSOVO in a duel for the 2014 CEV Volleyball Challenge Cup - Women, on Sunday afternoon at the very same Burhan Felek.

Fenerbahce’s Italian head coach Marcello Abbondanza shares the growing emotions: “There is a very important game waiting for us and we are very excited about it. We want to win and celebrate the trophy with our fans,” he stated.

“In the away match we got to know Uralochka and we are aware that if we block well in the second match at home, we can have an easier win that in the first game,” Captain Seda Tokatlioglu added.  “As I know, all tickets have been sold out and 7,000 supporters will come to cheer us on in our quest for the CEV Cup.”

Fenerbahce won the first leg in Ekaterinburg by a narrow 3:2, a result which sets the stage for a very tough fight in the second leg today.  The starting time of the game is at 20:00 local (19:00 CET).