CEV: Champions League Final Four
After five months, 28 teams, 90 matches, everything comes down to one weekend featuring four teams in Berlin to determine the best team in all of Europe in the 2015 DenizBank Champions League Final Four. Here's what you can expect this weekend.
Zenit Kazan (RUS) vs. Berlin Recycling Volleys (GER)
12:00 p.m. EST/ 9:00 a.m. PST
You don't always get an easy match-up when you're the host. The Berlin Recycling Volleys will have to get through a team littered with superstars, Zenit Kazan, if they're going to play for Gold on their home court. The Russians are no stranger to the stage of competition, having medaled in three of the past four years including taking it all in 2012.
The worlds best setter, Marouf (#5) has a deadly arsenal at his disposal including American Matt Anderson (#1) Photo: Zenit Kazan
The hometown crowd will be expecting big things from Australia's Paul Carroll Photo: CEV
Players to watch
Kazan
- Matt Anderson (USA)
- Wilfredo Leon (CUB)
- Saeed Marouf (IRA)
- Maxim Mikhailov (RUS)
- Nikolay Apalikov (RUS)
Berlin
- Robert Krommn (GER)
- Paul Carroll (AUS)
- Erik Shoji (USA)
- Rob Bontje (NED)
Asseco Resovia Rzeszow (POL) vs. PGE Skra Belchatow (POL)
2:00 p.m. EST/ 11:00 a.m. PST
A potential preview of the Plus Liga Final, these two teams are no strangers. With the same 22-4 record in Poland, Resovia narrowly taking the top spot by three points. Given the strength of both squads it's surprising when you consider neither has won the Champions League before. Belchatow came close in 2012 as the runners-up while this will be Rzeszow's first shot at a medal.
Krysztof Ignaczak is the defensive and emotional leader for Rzeszow and will be relied on heavily this weekend. Photo: Asseco Resovia Rzeszow
Wlazly (left) and Winiarski (right) led Poland to a World Championships in the fall, can they lead Belchatow to it's first Champions League trophy? Photo: PGE Skra Belchatow
Players to watch
Rzeszow
- Piotr Nowakowski (POL)
- Fabian Drzyzga (POL)
- Krzysztof Ignaczak (POL)
- Nikolay Penchev (BUL)
Belchatow
- Mariusz Wlazly (POL)
- Facundo Conte (ARG)
- Michal Winiarski (POL)
- Ferdinand Tille (GER)
- Nicolas Marechal (FRA)