Leading leagues in Europe are stepping in the decisive phase. Russian teams are still struggling for possibly most comfortable seeding before play-off round while elite of Turkey just have finished quarterfinals. The most advanced competition takes place in Italy and Poland. In these two countries, only four teams remain on the battlefield and have already got first encounters over. How did the struggle in the most prestigious leagues in the world look? Find out here!
Russia (Superliga)
Fakel Novy Urengoy fatal series is in full swing. The team of Ferdinando de Giorgi lost fifth match in the row and still occupies the 8th spot in power-ranking with little prospects of improving the position before the launch of the playoffs since Fakel is not able to find a balance between positive reception and attack efficiency. Zenit Kazan, Belogorie Belgorod, and Dinamo Moscow saved a theoretical opportunities to settle down on the standing top, however, Zenit took the best track and need just three points in order to maintain leadership after the regular season and to gain free lots in the initial play-off round.
All results of the 20th leg:
Kuzbass Kemerovo – Lokomotiv Kharkhiv 3:0 (25:0, 25:0, 25:0) Default
Lokomotiv Novosibirsk – Dinamo Moscow 1:3 (23:25, 20:25, 25:22, 20:25)
Top Scorers: Moroz 19, Camejo 16, Volvich 9, Leonenko 6; Kruglov 24, Markin 13, Biryukov 13, Filippov 9
Ural Ufa – Tyumen 3:0 (29:27, 25:21, 25:22)
Top Scorers: Danilov 19, Kuznetsov 8, Feoktistov 8, M.Botin 7; Uchikov 14, Idi 11, Shpilev 10, Khoroshev 6
Prikam Perm – Belogorie Belgorod 0:3 (22:25, 19:25, 12:25)
Top Scorers: Yakimov 14, Konnov 6, Zakharov 6; Muserskiy 11, Tetyukhin 10, Kazakov 7, Bogomolov 7
Fakel Novy Urengoy – Dinamo Krasnodar 0:3 (19:25, 17:25, 19:25)
Top Scorers: Bakun 9, Winiarski 8, Kritskiy 8, Titich 6, Gutsalyuk 6; Stokr 16, Berezhko 13, Kalinin 8, Krivets 8
Zenit Kazan – Grozny 3:0 (25:18, 25:23, 25:16)
Top Scorers: Anderson 14, Sivozhelez 12, Abrosimov 10, Apalikov 7; A.Botin 12, Purin 8, Nikonenko 6, Shkhulyavichus 6, Parkhomchuk 6
Shakhtar Soligorsk – Gazprom Surgut 1:3 (23:25, 25:21, 20:25, 22:25)
Top Scorers: Audochanka 17, Drapchinskiy 11, Udrys 10, Khmialeuski 10; Cheremisin 17, Aleksiev 16, Rodichev 16, Evtyukhin 9
Gubernia Nizhny Novgorod – Yaroslavich Yaroslavl 3:0 (25:22, 25:19, 27:25)
Top Scorers: Pavlov 17, Ostapenko 11, Abramov 9, Savin 6, Lyamin 6; Quesque 12, Poltavskiy 10, Tavasiev 7
Standing:
RankTeamWin/lossPoints1.Zenit Kazan19/1572.Belogorie Belgorod19/1553.Dinamo Moscow18/2524.Dinamo Krasnodar13/7405.Lokomotiv Novosibirsk13/7386.Gubernia Nizhny Novgorod12/8367.Gasprom Surgut11/9358.Fakel Novy Urengoy9/11299.Kuznass Kemerovo10/102710.Ural Ufa8/122311.Prikam Perm7/132312.Grozny8/122113.Yaroslavich Yaroslavl5/151614.Tyumen5/151415.Shakhtar Soligorsk3/171316.Lokomotiv Kharkhiv0/200
Italy (Serie A)
Two semis of the Italian Serie A did not brought any surprises despite one of participants, Casa Modena, openly disclaims any right to the titer, but as it turned out “words” don’t have any motive power. Modena did not win even one set against Lube Banca Macerata in spite of clinching extremely tight fight in the first and second set. The bunch of semifinalists is completed by Copra Elior Piacenza and the revelation of the season from Perugia. It was revenge for the Coppa Italia final won by Piacanza and this time history repeated itself too. A marvelous performance by Aleksandar Atanasijevic (26 points, 56% of efficiency in spiking, 5 aces and 2 blocks) was not enough because Copra had got two almost perfect middle-blockers, Fei and Simon, as well as effective Luca Vettori that seemed to be come back to nice shape.
Pair no. 1
Lube Banca Macerata 3 – 0 Casa Modena (25:23, 26:24, 25:21)
Lube Banca: Baranowicz, Kovar 13, Stankovic 8, Zaytsev 10, Parodi 8, Podrascanin 9, Henno (L) and Kurek, Giombini, Monopoli
Casa: Bruno 2, Ngapeth 15, Sala 6, Bartman 14, U. Kovacevic 9, Beretta 4, Mania (L) and Sket 1, Deroo, Kampa, Bossi
MVP: Jiri Kovar
Play-off: 1-0
Pair no. 2
Copra Elior Piacenza 3 – 1 Sir Safety Perugia (25:22, 25:17, 12:25, 25:18)
Copra Elior: De Cecco 3, Papi 8, Fei 9, Vettori 19, Kaliberda 11, Simon 15, Marra (L) and Le Roux, Zlatanov 2, Husaj 1, Tencati
Sir Safety: Paolucci, Vujevic 7, Buti 8, Atanasijevic 26, Petric 11, Semenzato 1, Giovi (L) and Barone 4, Cupkovic, Mitic 2
MVP: Luca Vettori
Play-off: 1-0
Poland (PlusLiga)
The season 2013/14 may be dramatic for Asseco Resovia Rzeszow. The twice row champion of Poland is standing on the edge of extinction in its semifinal versus ZAKSA Kedzierzyn Kozle. Red and white players lost two games in play-off series at their own stage and need a true miracle to stay in play in particular that Resovia lost his captain, Olieg Achrem, who broke off the cruciate ligaments in his left knee. ZAKSA absolutely took advantage that loss executing its competitors especially to the serve and claiming two tie-breaks. It is worth knowing that the first match can be described by one word “serve”. Both teams contributed impressive number of 21 aces.
In the other game couple, PGE Skra Belchatow defended own court asset and is very close to jump into the final after one year break. Miguel Angel Falasca’s wards lost only two sets in the double duel having some problems just in the premiere Sunday’s match against Champions League bronze medalists of Jastrzebski Wegiel overwhelming them in 5 sets. On Monday, there was no foothold. Skra totally switched off a combinative style proposed by Michal Masny, Jastrzebski’s setter, using powerful serve passed by Mariusz Wlazly and Facundo Conte. Among Jastrzebski Wegiel, an opposite, Michal Lasko, did not disappointed while all the rest did not adapt to his Italian teammate.
Pair no. 1
Asseco Resovia Rzeszow 2 – 3 ZAKSA Kedzierzyn-Kozle (25:20, 22:25, 25:17, 19:25, 13:15)
Asseco: Tichacek 5, Veres 4, Perlowski 7, Schops 17, Achrem 13, Nowakowski 15, Ignaczak (L) and Konarski 13, Lotman 3, Penchev
ZAKSA: Zagumny 2, Ruciak 10, Mozdzonek 9, Witczak 12, Kooy 23, Wisniewski 8, Gacek (L) and Bociek 9, Ferens, Lewis 1, Pilarz
MVP: Pawal Zagumny
Play-off: 0-1
Asseco Resovia Rzeszow 2 – 3 ZAKSA Kedzierzyn-Kozle (18:25, 25:18, 20:25, 25:23, 11:15)
Asseco: Drzyzga, Lotman 8, Perlowski 11, Schops 8, Veres 21, Nowakowski 13, Ignaczak (L) and Konarski 7, Tichacek, Penchev
ZAKSA: Zagumny 3, Ruciak 10, Mozdzonek 5, Witczak 21, Kooy 21, Wisniewski 13, Gacek (L) and Bociek 3, Ferens 1, Pilarz 1
MVP: Dominik Witczak
Play-off: 0-2
Pair no. 2
PGE Skra Belchatow 3 – 2 Jastrzebski Wegiel (25:23, 17:25, 23:25, 25:17, 15:11)
PGE Skra: Uriarte 2, Antiga 4, Klos 8, Wlazly 23, Conte 22, Wrona 3, Zatorski (L) and Tuia 7, Plinski 4, Brdjovic 1, Mackowiak
Jastrzebski: Masny 3, Kubiak 18, Pajenk 8, Lasko 23, Gierczynski 7, Van de Voorde 3, Wojtaszek (L) and Marechal 4, Bontje 4, Malinowski, Filippov
MVP: Facundo Conte (PGE Skra)
Play-off: 1-0
PGE Skra Belchatow 3:2 Jastrzebski Wegiel (25:23, 25:20, 25:15)
PGE Skra: Uriarte 1, Antiga 9, Klos 8, Wlazly 13, Conte 12, Wrona 8, Zatorski (L) and Brdjovic, Mackowiak
Jastrzebski: Masny, Kubiak 7, Pajenk 5, Lasko 13, Gierczynski 1, Czarnowski 4, Wojtaszek (L) and Marechal 2, Malinowski
MVP: Nicolas Uriarte (PGE Skra)
Play-off: 2-0
Turkey (Türkiye 1. Voleybol Ligi)
Quaterfinal phase of the Turkish league closed without breakthroughs. Fenerbahce Istanbul, Arkas Izmir, Halkbank Ankara and Istanbul Sehir.B advanced to the top 4 and will fight for the title. The latter team had to travel the longest distance on the way to the semi-finals as Sehir.B had to fight hard until 3 games against Maliye Milli Piyango Ankara and the entire rivalry was settled only in the fifth set of the last match firmly thanks to Gundars Celitans.
Istanbul B.sehir Bld. – Maliye Milli Piyango Ankara 0-3 (21-25, 22-25, 23-25)
Top Scorers: Coskovic 14, Antanovich 12, Mustedanovic 11, Cin 5; Gjorgiev 17, Popp 16, Gunes 10, Hascan 9, Kirici 8
Play-off: 1-1
Arkas Spor Izmir – Galatasaray FXTCR Istanbul 3-0 (25-19, 25-17, 25-21)
Top Scorers: not published
Play-off: 2-0
Fenerbahçe Grundig Istanbul – Gümüshane Torul Gençlik 3-0 (27-25, 25-14, 25-21)
Top Scorers: Toy 15, Felipe 12, Thiago Alves 7, Kayhan 6; Maiyo 12, Temel 11, Alp Cayir 6, Caglar 5
Play-off: 2-0
Halkbank Ankara – Ziraat Bankasi Ankara 3-0 (25-23, 25-13, 27-25)
Top Scorers: Juantorena 17, Kaziyski 16, Subasi 12, Batur 6; Dagci 13, Bojic 11, Gungor 9, Horstink 7
Play-off: 2-0
Istanbul B.sehir Bld. – Maliye Milli Piyango Ankara 3-2 (25-22, 21-25, 25-17, 26-28, 16-14)
Top Scorer: Celitans 24, Coskovic 20, Antanovich 11, Holmes 8; Gjorgiev 22, Popp 14, Gunes 11, Kirici 11
Play-off: 2:1
Semifinals:
Fenerbahçe Grundig Istanbul – Arkas Spor Izmir
Halkbank Ankara – Istanbul B.sehir Bld.