Posts by Nick

    Russia - China 3:2 (13:25, 25:22, 19:25, 25:17, 15:13)


    Well,I think both teams showed average level of volleyball. Russia suffers a lot in receiving. I think they should work on receiving really hard all the time they have before WCH. China just made many stupid errors.

    bet365 is broadcasting..you just need to sign up, it´s free.. bet365.com
    russia played first set with: starseva-gamova-kosheleva-fateeva-borodakova-perepelkhina-, and lost 13-25
    second set: gamova and borodakova out, goncharova and merkulova in... result 25-22 for russia
    i think that borodakova did not score one single point in first set, but gave many points in erros for the chinese team




    I"m signed up in bet365. It says that " Unfortunately, this event is not available in your region". So, I can't watch....


    About Borodakova. She rarely scores points by attack. She just can't attack, it's common thing for her. I'm not surprised.


    I think the only one who must be banned is Fateeva.


    Marieke68 - Thanks!!!!

    I think this is not the right schedule. Holland start with match against Germany, Caro told me so.
    Schedule is on bet365, they started with streaming at 11 am tomorrow. You have to click on livestreaming,and then find the details.


    Well, that info was taken from Yeltsin Cup offical site. As long as Azerbaijan don't participate then its schedule will be for Germany, I have corrected the schedule.
    As for Bet365, I know how to use that site, I watched the whole Montreux. But for me there is no a word about Yeltsin Cup there, strange. Anyway, thanks for your reply.

    Schedule:


    July 6, Tuesday


    15:00 Russia - China (Friendly match)
    17:00 Germany- Netherlands
    18:45 Tournament opening ceremony
    19:30 Belarus - Italy


    July 7, Wednesday


    15:00 Italy - Germany (Friendly match)
    17:00 China - Netherlands
    19:00 Belarus - Russia


    July 8, Thursday


    15:00 Belarus - Netherlands (Friendly match)
    17:00 China - Germany
    19:00 Russia - Italy


    July 9, Friday


    Rest day


    July 10, Saturday


    15:00 5th place match
    17:00 Semi 1
    19:00 Semi 2


    July 11, Sunday


    15:00 3rd place match
    17:00 Final
    19:00 Tournament closing ceremony.


    Btw guys, where did you find the schedule for Yeltsin Cup on Bet365? As for me, I couldn't see such info.

    Volley BERGAMO - Scavolini PESARO : 2-3 (25:20, 25:27, 26:24, 18:25, 12:15).
    Wow, what a match. It is such a pleasure to watch Italian teams. I's like to watch more of this kind. So many digs, lots of looong rallies, superb defense. Can't remeber last time I was so excited by women's volleyball match. Fenerbahche vs Odintsovo was a dull shitvolley compared to this.
    Congats Pesaro, I cheered for them! And thanks for such volleyball.

    I really wonder why do almost all teams show their best matches agaist Russia? Belgium, Spain, now Poland...
    I don't have an exact answer on this question.
    Considering yesterday's match I should say that Russia continued to show low level volleyball.
    Disaster in reception.I really smiled after Makowski words: "The Russians didn't play bad at all. They had a good reception, but we were extremely good today." Russia had 11 errors in reception and 57% positive and 14% excellent reception. C'mon Piotr, you call that good reception?
    One attacker. As all of guys said nowadays Gamova can't win matches alone as it was in previous years. (however she won OG qualification against Poland, Sokolova was in bad shape in that game). I don't know what happened to Kosheleva in this match. She was completely helpless. Yeah, Poles played very good againts her, but according to statistics, she's among (if not the best) best spikers of this tournament. She was the best spiker of WGP. And she played against strong teams like Brazil, China,Netherlands and Germany... I have no explanation for such play of her.
    Luck and silly mistakes. Russia made tons of silly mistakes. Sometimes they played like amateurs and it was really disgusting to watch. On the contrary, Poles were lucky in many moments.. with ball touching the net and always falling to Russia side, and some other moments, but as we know luck follows the best one.
    Defence. As usual Russia is zero. It was really nice to see Mariola's defence. Poland played 100 times better in defence.
    Block. Russia lost even in this component. I give my credit to Poles, they were blocking quite good.
    So, overall Poland played better in all components and they deserved to win, they were better team in this match.
    What worries me more is Russia's preparation for this season. I'am not 100% sure but I think that Kuzutkin might made the same mistake like Selinger did in 2007. Holland won WGP and then played not so well in ECH and failed to reach semi-finals.
    Nobody expected but Russia almost won WGP 2009 (leading 14-12 in the fifth set against Brazil) and got silver medal. They played ok against good teams. And what do we see now? Low level volleyball with one attacker no reception at all, no defence... etc... Don't know what to think, really.
    About match Russia - Holland.
    I'm 100% sure that Holland will play with their main players and will play as they did in all previous matches. First of all, there are no teams that feel good after loss even if they did it for purpose. I can't remember big tournaments when there were such examples, except for WCH 2002 when China lost matches to Greece and smb else not to face Russia or USA in semi-finals. In the long run, they lost to Italy in semi and to Russia in bronze medal match. So, you see, these "games" almost always turn out of you. Then, Holland lost to Russia in WGP qualification 0:3 (9,19,17) and in the final of WGP 0:3 (20,23,21). Of course they want revenge, of course they will fight till the end to prove that they can beat Russia. Moreover, none coach wants his team to lose sport tone. They are on fire, crashing all teams by 3:0, why all of sudden lose Russia? No way guys.
    I reckon that Russia will lose this match and will be out of competition and it will be the repeat of 2003 (Russia 5th place). From one hand girls already did unbelievable work, they won WGP silver medal!!! From the other hand, of course I'd like to see them higher than 5th place.
    But even if they were able to reach last four, they'd be on the 4th place. So, the difference is not that big.


    One more thing I've noticed. There are some many aces on this tourmanent. Almost all teams serve only floats. I can't remember any tournament that float serves made reception sooo weak. I've seen many matches thanks to IPLA :thumbsup: and was really surprised... What do you guys think on this situation? Why do all teams have not good reception?

    At least it happened.
    Scavolini Pesaro - Volley Bergamo 1:3 (23:25, 25:21, 22:25, 23:25)


    Referee also made two mistakes in the end of the fourth set in favor of Pesaro but it didn't work. My congratulations to Bergamo for being the first team to beat Scavolini.

    LOL. Why did you guys consider match Pesaro - Zarechie to be interesting??? Zarechie is lame team especially for the strongest team in Champions' League. Both matches will be 3-0 for Pesaro, c'mon. It will be fast and painless))) The same for Pila, in my opinion they don't have chances to win versus Bergamo, at least they'll fight and may win a set or two, not more.
    I reckon that the most interesting mathces will be Dinamo - Postar, because Dinamo doesn't play really well (Dinamo was in the weakest group and 6-0 record versus average level teams says nothing at all) and I really liked Serbian game, Dimano will have tough time facing Postar. And the second one is between two Turkish teams.
    I think that Cannes, Bergamo, Pesaro, Turk Telekom will reach the next phase for sure and and remaining two pairs is 50/50.

    After 3 years without volleyball, 30 year old setter Elena Vassilevskaya decided to return to volleyball and signed a contract with Uralochka. The only foreighn player that will play for Uralochka is not very well known but with great potential (according to Ogienko) Veronica Gomez of Venezuela.
    2 Nastja - you can add Marcelle Rodrigues to Zarechie roster, Brazilian setter will play for Zarechie only in Champion's league as a substitue for Zhukova, who remains the main setter.

    Perugia is new ECL champion. Congratlations to the Italians, they deserved this victory.


    Zarechie - Perugia 1:3 (15:25, 21:25, 25:18, 14:25) statistics


    In my opinion it was the worst ECL final I've ever seen. Zarechie just didn't exist on court, comitting countless errors (29!!! in total) one after another. I could explain somehow if the team consisted of young girls but c'mon Zhukova, Sokolova, Safronova, Merkulova, Pronicheva - they are all quite experinced ladies.... Well, it was very sad to watch this match.... I can't explain what happened to Sokolova. No will, no fighting spirit, Zhukova making terrible sets, no reception, service errors, Perugia had nothing to do but to own Russian team. I'm so ashamed by peformance of Zarechie. If I knew Russian team would be playing this way in final, I' d root for Murcia. Murcia would have shown far more better volleyball. What for to enter final? To be owned in that way? Lose two matches and come back home as quick as you can.
    Bravo Simona, I'm amazed by this player since ECL final, when Perugia lost to Tenerife. Very solid player, she is really Terminator. :) Franchia is good as usual, but in this particular match she could have played better I think, however what for to strain yourself if there's no opposition from thr other side :) Plus good reception and defence, that's it, no stupid mistakes in defence. Italy showed to Russia again that height isn't an advantage.
    Considering Russian team. In my opinion Sokolova and Zhukova - two leaders failed this game. Sometimes it seemed Ljuba didn't want to play.. obvious technical mistakes in blocking.. uncharacteristic numerous errors in attack and in serve.... I can't explain it at all, really. Safronova showed good game yeaterday. Today she was playing like an amateur. Fateeva.... well, when you opposite showes 22% in attck, scoring 2 points...
    Well, that's it, this match isn't worth talking about at all.
    Match for the third place must have been the final one, because final match was a great dissapointment.
    I'd like to add that it's great result for Italy again. They are so dominant in European club volleyball that other countries should watch and learn!
    P.S. Shame on Sokolova :thumbdown:

    Well, what an inexplicable match.... I rooted for Murcia but damn coach made everything for his team to lose... really can't understand him, substituting Glinka, leading 2-1 ad 14-8. He wanted to give her rest, so the 4th set ended 27-25 in favour of Novara. Plus Jaqueline's injury and Fofao's accident in the fourth set played a great role, especially Jaqueline, 'caus # 8, who subbed Jaque is so weak for this level.... However, I'm not that sad, because I'm happy for Skowronska)))
    Lothie,in case you want to know my opinion regarding Jaq's injury, well, it's hard to judge but she was crying and had painful face, however, I think she'll recover till OG ;)