Kazan open race for 2017 Club Worlds with show of power

Lausanne, Switzerland, December 8, 2016 – Defending European champions Zenit Kazan of Russia embarked on their quest for a ticket to the 2017 edition of the FIVB Men’s Club World Championship with a dynamic straight-set sweep of Turkey’s Arkas in Izmir, as the pool phase of the European Champions League got underway this week.Powered by top scorer Maxim Mikhaylov (on 19 points) and USA’s Matt Anderson who added 14, the runners-up of the 2016 FIVB Club World Championship in Betim overhwelmed Arkas on the block with 10 stuffs (half of those from setter Alexander Butko alone) to 3. The Russians also served 11 aces to 2 in the 3-0 (25-14, 25-11, 25-17) in front of 2,000 fans.The win came three days after head coach Vladimir Alekno celebrated his 50th birthday and puts Zenit in a leading position in Pool C, after Paris Volley blew a two-set lead at home in the French capital to fall to Germany’s VfB Friedrichshafen 3-2 (22-25, 24-26, 25-18, 25-18, 15-13). …

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