Kazan (Russia), 13 May 2018

2018 CEV Champions League to Zenit Kazan: 3-2 at the final against Cucine Lube Civitanova

Volvich blocked Christenson during the Final Match (ph. cevl.lu)

For the fourth season in a row, and the sixth in general, the Russian team Zenit Kazan are Champions of Europe. But this time the Russian team conquered the CEV Volleyball Champions League in the home field, differently from the other times, in front of their public. It has been a comeback victory against Cucina Lube Civitanova (who eliminated Trentino Diatec at Playoffs 6) at tie-break in the last part of the most important championship of the continent.
Russia keeps on dominating the tournament and writes its name in the sportscaster hall for the seventh time with three different teams (in the past there was also place for Belgorod and No-vosibirsk). After the three victories in a row of Trentino Volley (the only Italian team that suc-ceded in defeating a Russian team at the final of the championship), only Russian teams won.
Perugia came third and defeated 3-2 Kedzierzyn-Kozle in the final for the third place, after los-ing against Kazan at the semifinal on Saturday night.

Here the results of the final of 2018 CEV Volleyball Champions League which has been played tonight in Kazan:
Zenit Kazan-Cucine Lube Civitanova 3-2
(29-27, 18-25, 23-25, 25-23, 17-15)
ZENIT KAZAN: Anderson 11, Samoylenko 5, Mikhailov 24, Leon 33, Volvich 9, Butko 2, Verbov (L);. Panteleymonenko, Alekseev, Gutsalyuk 1. N.e. Alekno L., Yudin, Kononov, Krotkov. Coach Vladimir Alekno.
CUCINE LUBE CIVITANOVA: Cester 6, Christenson 3, Juantorena 8, Stankovic 19, Sokolov 29, Sander 15, Grebennikov (L); Kovar 2, Zhukouski. N.e. Candellaro, Marchisio, Casadei, Milan, Storani. Coach Giampaolo Medei.
Referees: Gerothodoros e Collados.
Set Duration: 36’, 27’, 30’, 29’, 26’; tot 2h e 28’.
Notes: 7.000 spectators. Zenit Kazan: 10 blocks, 9 aces, 22 errors in service, 10 errors in ac-tion, 51% in attack, 41% (21%) in reception. Cucine Lube Civitanova: 12 blocks, 5 aces, 20 errors in service, 7 errors in action, 54% in attack, 40% (24%) in reception.

Individual awards:
Best setter: Alexander Butko (RUS/KAZAN)
Best opposite: Tsvetan Sokolov (BUL/CIVITANOVA)
Best spikers: Osmany Juantorena (ITA/CIVITANOVA)  and Wilfredo Leon Venero (CUB/KAZAN)
Best middle blockers: Marko Podrascanin (SRB/PERUGIA) and Dragan Stankovic (SRB/CIVITANOVA)
Best libero: Jénia Grebennikov (FRA/CIVITANOVA)
Mvp: Maxim Mikhailov (RUS/KAZAN)

Trentino Volley Srl
Press Office