Samantha-Bricio-No12
The Italian Championship regular season winners Imoco and Turkish Fenerbahçe will be the first two teams to play the CEV Champions League semifinals under the changed format that the European Volleyball Confederation introduced a year ago.
For Imoco, this will be the third consecutive semifinal of the strongest club competition in the Old Continent. Unlike the 2012 winners Fenerbahçe, Imoco haven’t reached the gold medal yet. This matchup will be emotional for the Mexican outside hitter Samantha Bricio who has spent two seasons with Imoco before strengthening “Fener“ last summer.
“I’m feeling excited and a bit nervous. Coming back to Palaverde after one year is something that makes me excited! It will be strange to play there as a visitor, but I’m happy I get to play in front of all the great fans that will be there. I hope they will be happy to see me as much as I am to see them! We will do our best, playing in Palaverde is hard for all visiting teams because of the fans, but playing here in Turkey has helped us prepare for big crowds. We have to keep our concentration throughout the whole game. Both of the teams have had a long season so… it will be an interesting match for both of us,” Bricio said.
Imoco’s score in the 2019 CEV Champions League is 5-3. On the other hand, Fenerbahçe suffered only one defeat so far, having a 7-1 record.
“On Saturday we had a great game with Busto, rotating all players to make them our fuel in view of the next challenges, primarily for tomorrow’s challenge with Fenerbahçe, a very strong team that we’re ready to face. They have two impressive players like Bricio, whom we know well, and a formidable Vargas who attacks so many balls and all with great strength and courage. But there’s also a player who gives balance like Rabadzhieva and Erdem whom I consider a great middle blocker with significant speed. And this is without considering the others. In conclusion, a team with only a few weak sides which will take us to the limits of perfection. The secret will be to be in order in the defense-block play and to always remain very focused and ready to go forward. In my opinion, knowing that the second game will be at their hall in Istanbul, the odds from which we start are 51% for Fenerbahçe and 49% for us. Still, we are ready to fight until the end, giving our best starting tomorrow,“ Imoco head coach Daniele Santarelli stated.
2019 CEV Women’s Champions League semifinals – 1st leg:
Imoco Volley Conegliano – Fenerbahçe Opet İstanbul (20:30 CET)*
April 4:
VakifBank İstanbul – Igor Gorgonzola Novara (18:00)**
*2nd leg on April 9
**2nd leg on April 10
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