Berlin at the doorstep of Wonderland, but failed to enter

For a second week in a row Berlin Recycling Volleys showed the European volleyball society how much they have grown as a team in the past months. Zenit Kazan made it through the sieve of the Round 12, but they had to sweat for every single point against the German champions.

Both Vladimir Alekno and Mark Lebedew staked on pretty much identical rosters compared to what they selected a week earlier in Germany. The only exception was the appearance of Alexander Abrosimov from the beginning at the expense of Nikolay Apalikov.

An easy start in the opening set for the reigning champions (25-15) deluded almost 5000 home supporters. The next two parts were on the account of Berlin RV and the scenario from “Max-Schmelling Halle” found accommodation in Kazan as well.

The tie-break was a game of nerve-rackingly intense rallies for both head coaches as the two teams took turns in dropping their advantage. It was thanks to a great serve by Maxim Mikhaylov which led to a block against Robert Kromm‘s pipe that finally gave Zenit a two-point cushion at 14-12. A counter attack by Aleksandar Spirovski a minute later tied the score at 14. However, the tall Russian block stopped once more Bjorn Hoehne at the next matchpoint to stamp Zenit’s tickets to Round 6.

In the next phase the protagonists from Kazan would either face Itac Diatec Trentino in a rematch of the 2011-2012 CEV Champions League semifinal in Poland, or would welcome Dinamo Moscow in an all-Russian affair.

Zenit Kazan – Berlin Recycling Volleys 3-2 (25-15, 21-25, 28-30, 25-13, 16-14)

Zenit Kazan: Vermiglio 1, Mikhaylov 17, Anderson 20, Sivozhelez 22, Lee 14, Abrosimov 6, Babichev – libero, Apalikov 2, Kolodinskiy, Obmochaev
Berlin Recycling Volleys: Shoji 4, Carroll 4, Kromm 25, Hoehne 7, Fischer 8, Kmet 9, Krystof – libero, Galandi, Kuehner 1

Pictures: CEV

Click Here: camiseta rosario central