CL M: Jastrzębski down BR Volleys in emotion-packed match, Zenit beat Toulouse even without 5 starters!

Jastrzebski

In a match packed with emotions, Jastrzębski swept BR Volleys to start off their 2018 Champions League campaign on the right foot, 3-0 (25-21, 25-19, 26-24)

Mark Lebedew, the Australian coach in Jastrzębski, had to put his emotions on a side tonight as he led BR Volleys for five years before he joined his current club in 2015. At the rival’s bench, he had his assistant, and also a compatriot, in Jastrzębski last season – Luke Reynolds. At the same time, Lebedew was forced to beat a trio of the players which he coaches in “Volleyroos” National Team: Paul Carroll, Luke Perry, and Adam White. But, Lebedew did a great job. Jastrzębski looked quite superior on the court playing against the German powerhouse, having to work hard only in the third set.

The Cuban Salvador Hidalgo Oliva, for whom this match was emotional as well as he lived in Berlin for 10 years and played for BR Volleys from 2009 to 2011, topped Jastrzębski with 17 points. Paul Carroll scored 12 points for the German side.

In the same pool, the defending champions Zenit Kazan survived the scare in France after losing the first set against Spacer’s Toulouse VB. The French side, who entered Group Stage through the Qualifications, was close to winning the third set as well, but since they didn’t make it, the Russian giants took the chance to finish them off – 3-1.

Zenit’s coach Vladimir Alekno decided to leave the Cuban Wilfredo León and Maksim Mikhailov at home while he did not include Aleksey Verbov, Aleksandr Butko and Artem Volvich in the lineup. Nikita Alekseev took the opportunity to show his coach he can be trusted in the continuation of the season as he poured in 26 points for Zenit. In Toulouse, the Brazilian Bruno Temponi Araujo scored 18 points.

CEV Volleyball Champions League 2017/2018 / Male / Seniors

4TH ROUND / POOL D / Round 1

Results, 1st round, today:

Arkas – Zaksa 0-3 (23-25, 28-30, 23-25)

Skra – Chaumont 1-3 (25-19, 18-25, 19-25, 27-29)

Toulouse – Zenit 1-3 (31-29, 20-25, 23-25, 19-25)

Jastrzebski – BR Volleys 3-0 (25-21, 25-19, 26-24)

Perugia – Lube 20:30 CET

Thursday:

Lokomotiv – Dinamo 13:30 CET

Fenerbahce – Roeselare 16:00 CET

Friedrichshafen – Halkbank 20:00 CET

Tuesday:

Valepa – PAOK 3-2 (25-19, 27-29, 33-35, 25-23, 15-11)

Maaseik – Trentino 1-3 (17-25, 23-25, 25-23, 17-25)

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