Epic volleyball news | April

➤ Belogorie BELGOROD is the winner of 2018 CEV Cup

After a strong performance in the first leg, Belogorie BELGOROD travelled to Turkey for their return match against Ziraat Bankasi Ankara. After a very slow start the Russian side forced their way back into the match and ultimately took the title in a tense fourth set. Konstantin Bakun of Belogorie ended up top scorer and the MVP award for the Final went to setter Ulas Kiyak from the home team. Belogorie had previously won the CEV Cup in 2009 – and their last European title came in 2014 when they won the CEV Volleyball Champions League and that happened in Ankara as well after they beat hosts Halkbank in the gold medal match.

➤ It’s going to be a difficalt time for Cruzeiro fans

Sada Cruzeiro roster will undergo heavy changes for the 2018/19.
Three players will most likely stay in Cruzeiro for one more season: middle blockers Robertlandy Simon and Isac Santos, and the opposite Rodrigo Leao.
Yoandy Leal will leave for Cucine Lube Civitanova, Italy. Also, it seems Cruzeiro did not reach an agreement on the contract extension with the opposite Evandro Guerra.
So who might replace them?
Evandro could be replaced with the German Georg Grozer from Belogorie Belgorod. This means that Leal would be replaced with a domestic player. Another option for Cruzeiro is to move Simon to the opposite position (which he successfully played in Korea) and to hire American Taylor Sander from Lube instead of Leal.
Let’s not forget that Cruzeiro aim to hire Trentino middle blocker Eder Carbonera!
No matter if Grozer or Sander arrive, there will be no more room in the squad the Argentinean setter Nicolas Uriarte due to a maximum number of foren players.

➤ Wilfredo Leon Confirms Zenit Kazan Exit

With Earvin Ngapeth’s announcement he is joining Kazan, Wilfredo Leon confirms the news he is leaving Zenit after 4 seasons winning almost everything.
Here is Leon’s statement:
“I want to officially inform that I have decided not to renew my contract with Zenit Kazan. I would like to thank the Club and the Coach for creating the perfect conditions for my sport development. In this wonderful Club, I achieved titles that I was dreaming of – I won the Russian Championship, the Russian Cup, the Russian Super Cup, CEV Champions League, as well as the Club World Championship.
Also he said that the day of the CEV Champions League final match was his daughter’s first birthday, so that victory was the best gift. At the end of the statement he thanked Zenit fans for support and asked them to keep their fingers crossed for him in the future.

➤ Perugia Fans Given One Year Ban For Political Banner

A group of 8 spectators have been banned from attending sporting events in Perugia for at least a year after displaying a banner critical of Turkish president at a Champion’s League event.
7 members of the group were barred from attending sporting events in the Italian town for a year, while an 8th, citing prior offenses, was barred from 18 months.
On the court, Perugia made easy work of Ankara, winning 3 to zero. They will play in the Final 4 in Kazan, Russia against the hosts Zenit Kazan on May 12th.

➤ Volleyball Legend Sergey Tetyukhin Announces Retirement

Legendary Sergey Tetyukhin, who during years captained Russia’s men’s national team, has announced his retirement, according to the FIVB. The 42 year old, who currently plays for Russia’s Belogorie Belgorod, has participated in 6 Olympic Games, a volleyball record he shares with fellow Russian Yevgeniya Artamonova. After his first participatin in 1996, he medald in 4 of them. Tetyukhin was also flag-bearer for Russia in the Opening Ceremony of Rio 2016. That same year he was named Volleyball Ambassador of the Year by the European Volleyball Confederation.
At the club level, Sergei has won Russian Championship ten times.
Here is how Tetyukhin announced his decision:
“All athletes have to finish their career – no matter how great or not they may be. There comes a time when you have to tell yourself ‘stop’. This moment has come for me, and I’m okay with that”.