IRAKLIS THESSALONIKIS and TRENTINO fly to Indesit Champions League Final

In front of almost 10’000 fanatically fans in Prague’s amazing O2 Arena, Iraklis THESSALONIKI as well as TRENTINO Volley overpowered their opponents in Saturday’s semi-finals of the Men’s CEV Indesit Champions League 2009. THESSALONIKI unpredictably overcame ODINTSOVO in a hard-fought duel (3:1), whilst Volley TRENTINO kept the upper hand in straight sets over Lube Banca Marche MACERATA in today’s second semi-final.

TRENTINO Volley found a better rhythm into the first set of this eagerly awaited All-Italian semi-final. Under the lead of world-famous setter Nikola Grbic, TRENTINO entered the second technical time-out with a three-point lead, and was still ahead at 19-16. MACERATA head coach Ferdinando De Giorgi wisely called his second time-out. TRENTINO lost their momentum and when Emanuele Birarelli sent it wide, the score was leveled at 19-19. But TRENTINO continued calmly, bouncing back powerfully. Bulgarian Matey Kaziyski served an ace to regain a 23-20 advantage, and some moments later TRENTINO changed courts with a one-set lead (25-21). The stars of head coach Stoytchev Radostin were still on target in the second set as their hitters scored all over the court, clinching the set 25-19 and a 2:0 lead after a Sebastian Swiderski hammer flying some centimeters too long. MACERATA brought in Dutch Jan Willem Snippe for Swiderski to take an 11-7 lead in the third set. The match now was highly competitive, with spectacular actions on both sides and some never ending rallies. Michal Winiarski blocked an important point for TRENTINO to turn around the score at 13-12, and when Grbic set up Neves Vissotto for a stunning back row spike, TRENTINO was ahead 19-16. The 2’000 cheering TRENTINO fans saw their team fighting like champions, and when Vissotto ended it with a scorching winner from the right (25-23), the O2 Arena in Prague turned out to a yellow-blue party hall.



“We prepared today’s game very well”, said TRENTINO Captain Nikolai Grbic. “On the court, we were able to follow this preparation. I’m very happy.”

The first semi-final of the Men’s CEV Indesit Champions League Final Four 2009 in Prague between Iskra ODINSTOVO and Iraklis THESSALONIKI started as a test of strength and agility but as the first set progressed, Captain Pavel Abramov and Denis Kalinin shut down the Greek's defenders. THESSALONIKI’s head coach Flavio Gulinelli tried to reorganize his team calling a first time-out at 12-15, but the Russian blockers were relentless. German Jochen Schöps brought up set point for Iskra with a blistering winner from the right; and Andrey Egorchev closed it out at 25-19 with a monster block. Schöps again set the pace for the Russians in the second set, building a 8-6 lead at the first technical time out, but then Simon Tischer set up Swedish super star Marcus Nilsson for a missile from back row trying to close the gap. Both teams took high risks on serving, causing a couple of direct mistakes. The set now balanced on a knife’s edge (16-16, 18-18) before THESSALONIKI took over in front of 9’000 delighted fans, led by Nilsson in top form and their solid block as the Russians struggled with their attacks (25-22). Ready to replicate their success from the previous set, the Greeks jumped out to an 8-2 and 16-13 lead in the third set. Brazilian hero Giba, back from his injury, helped ODINTSOVO to keep in touch with the THESSALONIKI express (22-22, 23-23). However, the Greeks kept cool with a blistering winner through the middle as well as a block kill on the right (25-23). The Russians were far from giving up after THESSALONIKI’s 2-1 set lead, as the team of head coach Zoran Gajic forced the pace in the fourth set, taking a comfortable advance at 19-12. But the Greeks pulled it back at 19-all with a 7-0 run to take over the lead at 22-21, a gap the Russians could never close (25-23).


“I can’t find any words to explain our blackout in the fourth set”, said ODINTSOVO’s Captain Pavel Abramov. “We had a comfortable 6-points lead, but then started to struggle in reception and attacking. Unbelievable!”

“We were almost down on the end of the fourth set”, explained THESSALONIKI’s Captain and setter Simon Tischer, “but thanks to our outstanding fans we found a way back into the match, overpowering the Russians with an extraordinary comeback. Fantastic!” I would like to thank my players and all our fans for their hard work, they made an excellent job tonight”, stated Iraklis’ Head Coach Flavio Gulinelli. “I’m very proud of them.”

The CEV is very pleased to announce the attendance of FIVB President Jizhong Wei for this very important weekend here in Prague. CEV President André Meyer and Mr. Jizhong Wei will hold a special press conference on Sunday, 5 April 2009 at 16.45 hrs local time in the press conference room of the O2 Arena.

“The Czech Volleyball Federation invested huge amount of its possibilities and resources to prepare the best possible conditions for smooth and technically perfect course of this high level event of European volleyball clubs”, said CVF and OC President Antonin Lébl. “The Men’s CEV Indesit Champions League Final Four belongs to the centerpieces of our endeavor and serves at the same time to the preparation and verification of all measures and organizing routines that will be subsequently applied in organizing the European Championships 2011 preliminary and semifinal Pools here in the O2 Arena in Prague.”



Thanks to the exceptional positioning of the CEV Indesit Champions League, the strong desire of the best European clubs to reach a high-level sports quality label as well as the precious partnerships created with sponsors and partners, the CEV Indesit Champions’ League stands out as one of the main sports events in Europe right now. Being the strongest volleyball club competition in the world, the CICL enjoys a continuous increase in public interest and spectators’ attendance, mainly thanks to the growing publicity and marketing efforts that the CEV has been performing in unison with the participating clubs during the past years.