In the last round of the main phase the Polish team wrested a victory 3-1 over Tours VB and with 12 points and with 11 other teams qualified to the Playoffs.
Tours VB – ZAKSA Kedzierzyn-Kozle 1-3 (25-23, 18-25, 23-25, 21-25)
Tours: 8 blocks, 47% in attack, 59% of pos. reception, 3 aces.
ZAKSA: 13 blocks, 51% in attack, 64% of pos. reception, 8 aces.
To be certain about the qualification to the next phase, the Polish team had to win the match against Tours. From the first whistle ZAKSA seemed very determined and concentrated. Quickly gained an advantage of few points, however in the first set they lost the whole lead, what Tours took advantage of. The French team evened the score and eventually win this part of the game. The 2nd set was under the domination of the guests. At the beginning they took the lead and didn’t give it back till the end. The 3rd and the 4th part of the match were very exciting. Initially it was ZAKSA that took the lead, then the hosts got some points in a row. Overall, great performance of Jurij Gladyr in the serving area and excellent attacks of Felipe Fonteles and Antonin Rouzier gave a victory to the guests.
The best performer of the duel was Antonin Rouzier, who scored 19 points, including 2 aces, 2 blocks and 44% in attack. A perfect game also for the middle-blocker, Jurij Gladyr. The Ukrainian player got 16 points (4 aces, 2 blocks and 59% on the net). Another middle-blocker of the Polish team, Marcin Mozdzonek, gained 9 points: 6 blocks and 3 efficient attacks. From the other side the best player was Kamil Baranek with 17 points and 57% in attack.
Crvena Zvezda Beograd – Trentino Diatec 1-3 (18-25, 19-25, 25-23, 23-25)
Beograd: 6 blocks, 43% in attack, 74% of pos. reception, 3 aces.
Trentino: 16 blocks, 47% in attack, 67% of pos. reception, 3 aces.
As Trentino Diatec was sure of the qualification to the Playoffs 12, the match wasn’t important from this point of view. To Beograd the Italians went without some key players: Jan Stokr, Osmany Juantorena and Emanuele Birarelli stayed at home. On court the whole match played Jack Sintini, for the first time for 21 months. As the player wrote on his Facebook page: “Such emotions and such a joy to get back to my world! I’m really happy!”. Indeed, the Club World Champions made a perfect record of six consecutive wins in Champions League. In Beograd Trento played in alternative squad: with Djuric, Sintini, Lanza, Butgsthaler, Uchikov, Chrtiansky and Colaci (L). The first two sets under domination of the Italians. In the 3rd they relaxed and lost their concentration. The hosts took advantage of that moment of weakness and after a tied ending could celebrate the first won set. However, the 4th part of the game again won by the Italians thanks to a big performance of Bulgarian Nikolay Uchikov.
The absolute best scorer was Nikolay Uchikov who made 32 points with 50% in attack, four blocks and one ace. Good game also for other players of Trento, Burgstahler (13), Lanza (12) and Djuric (10). From the other side the best performers were Dusan Petkovic with 19 points (48% in attack) and Filip Stoilovic (37% in attack and 2 aces).
Final standings
1. Trentino Diatec 18 Q
2. ZAKSA Kedzierzy-Kozle 12 Q
3. Tours VB 6
4. Crvena Zvezda Beograd 0.
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