Dinamo KAZAN played with maximal concentration and managed to achieve a confident victory 3:0 over Unet e-work in the first home match of the CEV Cup quarterfinal.

 

The current European season happened to be extremely rich and complicated for Dinamo KAZAN. Besides, it differs greatly from the previous game of the team in the CEV Cup in 2017. As early as in the Main Phase, they had to meet two strong Italian teams in a row. Today's rival Unet e-work, just as Dinamo KAZAN, ranks second in the table of the national championship. To tell the truth, this game was to take place in the tournament final, just as in 2017.

 

1st set. The home team extended a hot, a very hot welcome to the Italians - 9:2. However, after the starting exchange of serves, the guests took a grip on themselves and the fighting began - 14:11. But the Russians blocked the important lengthy draw game. Then they twice blocked the attacks of the diagonal Lowe, added up in their own attack and confidently won the first set.

 

2nd set. The current European season happened to be extremely rich and complicated for Dinamo KAZAN. Besides, it differs greatly from the previous game of the team in the CEV Cup in 2017. As early as in the Main Phase, they had to meet two strong Italian teams in a row.Today's rival Unet e-work, just as Dinamo KAZAN, ranks second in the table of the national championship. To tell the truth, this game was to take place in the tournament final, just as in 2017.

 

3rd set. The home team started the third set with a good psychological advantage - 8:2. The Italians lost their morale and as early as at score 11:4 their coach lost both of their time-outs. After that the Russians slightly weakened their pressure, of course, and the visiting team managed to somewhat improve the score - 15:10. But the set and the match are obviously Dinamo KAZAN's.

 

Sergey Sikachev, assistant coach of Dinamo KAZAN: “Today, our serves were flying. Due to the serves and our defense we managed to ruin the speedy playing of the rivals. We prepared for the game heavily, as this team has much stronger players than our previous opponent Sugella MONZA. Yes, today we played well, but that is not the end. Everything will depend on the second game in Italy.”

 

Evgeniya Startseva, captain of Dinamo KAZAN: “The game was hard. Certainly, you would not say so looking at the score. But you saw yourselves, what a heated fight was that. We spent lots of emotions and strength today. And I am very glad that we took three scores at home, but the most interesting things are still ahead.”

 

Stefano Lavarini, head coach Unet e-work BUSTO ARSIZIO: “My congratulations to Dinamo KAZAN! They showed a really great playing today. Physically they were superfit! And that was one of the most important moments in the match. We failed to show our level of playing today. But I hope that at home we will be faster in attacks, stronger, and better in blocks. And I hope that at home we will manage to win in this series.”

 

Karsta Lowe, player of Unet e-work BUSTO ARSIZIO: “Today, we did not show the level we usually play at. We are very upset about that, because we know that we can play better. But we will train hard for the next match.”

 

CEV Cup. 4th Final. First match.

Dinamo KAZAN – Unet e-work - 3:0 (25:17, 25:12, 25:20)

20 February. Russia. Kazan. Volleyball Center “Saint Petersburg”.

Referee: Akdemir Y. (Turkey). Match time: 1.16 (26+24+26).

Dinamo: Biryukova (11), Maryukhnich (2), Koroleva (9), Fabris (16), Statrseva – С (1), de la Cruz (16) – starting line-up, Podkopaeva (libero), Fedorovtseva.

Unet e-work: Washington (6), Herbots (8), Gennari – C (6), Orro, Lowe (7), Bonifacio (5) – starting line-up, Wang (libero), Leonardi (libero), Bici, Cumino, Villani (2), Piccinini.

Points – 75:49, serve – 2:1, spike – 45:31, block – 8:2, reception – 54%:30%, errors – 14:20.

(Statistics by “Dinamo Kazan” coach-statistics M.Kuzovenin)