Zenit KAZAN move to the top of Pool C, after winning against the hosting team BERLIN Recycling Volleys in three sets. After a strong opening from the hosts, the Russian team slowly turned the odds in their favour, keeping that level throughout the rest of the match. All three spikers from KAZAN - Maxim Mikhailov, Earvin Ngapeth and Bartosz Bednorz - were the top three scorers of the match, scoring 14, 13 and 12 points respectively. Both KAZAN and BERLIN have six points in the Pool C after second day of the competition in Germany. Their match was the only one played in Pool C on Wednesday after Poland’s Jastrzebski Wegiel were unable to travel to Berlin. KAZAN will return on court on Thursday to compete with ACH Volley Ljubljana, who had a day of rest due to Jastrzebski’s absence. 

BERLIN led from the beginning of the match, but KAZAN patiently worked through the set to tie at 16-16 and go 16-18 ahead. The Russian club continued the dominance to claim the first set at 21-25. Zenit KAZAN kept control of the second set from its first moments, keeping one step ahead throughout the part. The team relied on the opposite Maxim Mikhailov, who scored 11 points by end of the second set. The third set proved the most difficult for BERLIN as the hosting team found itself six points behind KAZAN at 8-14. A time out called by BERLIN coach Cedric Enard did not help to change the odds as KAZAN kept the six-point lead until end of the match, winning the last set 18-25.

• The BERLIN Recycling Volleys had fewer options among the outside spikers position, after Samuel Tuia injured his left foot in a match against LJUBLJANA on Tuesday. Tuia will be out for several weeks, which meant that Cody Kessel and Timothée Carle were the only outside spikers available for the hosting team (young gun Robin Baghdady is also still injured).

• Coming from the bench Andre Surmachevskiy made the difference in the second that by showing a great performance at the service line (17-18 to 17-23). In return he received a rarely seen extra hug by his coach Vladimir Alekno.

• BERLINs Russian setter Sergei Grankin made is comeback after injury against some of his national teammates. But Alexander Butko was the outstanding setter this evening at Max-Schmeling-Halle and earned the MVP trophy. He was also the best blocker of the match, with three points.

• Zenit KAZAN’s Maxim Mikhailov was the top scorer with 14 points, including four aces. His teammates, outside spikers Earvin Ngapeth and Bartosz Bednorz followed with 13 and 12 points respectively. 

Benjamin Patch, Opposite of BERLIN Recycling Volleys: "It was a really big challenge today and we tried our best in this situation. It was everything we could have done, even being tired and exhausted. We made a lot of service errors, but you have to take risks against those opponents. The intention was good. We missed Samu because he is not just a weapon physically, but he really helps to energise the team. In the first set we were right there but they came up in a strong way. All the things around us, the injuries, the corona virus and so on do not make it easier to compete with such a team like Kazan."

Anton Brehme, middle blocker of BERLIN Recycling Volleys: "We started the game by serving really well. Afterwards we made to many easy mistakes and could not be efficient enough in attack. We can still learn a lot when playing against the best teams in Europe. I did my best in block, but they adapt well and changed their movements a little. That made it much more difficult. In this moments KAZAN showed their full experience."