Zenit Kazan storm through on perfect record

Six-time European champions Zenit Kazan swept aside any opposition, topped Pool C and sailed through to the quarterfinals of the CEV Champions League Volley 2021 - the only team across the board after the conclusion of pool play to remain on full points.

Berlin Recycling Volleys opened the 2nd Leg in Kazan with a 3-0 sweep of ACH Volley Ljubljana with well-balanced scoring from all around after brilliant distribution of the play from setter Sergey Grankin and 100% (7/7) attacking down the middle plus 4 blocks from Renan Michelucci. It was their fourth win in the tournament and left them with a fighting chance to advance to the quaterfinals - even first place in the pool still a theoretical possibility.

It was a great win for Berlin, but it also filled the hearts of the players with joy for playing before spectators for the first time in a long while, in accordance with the Russian authorities' coronavirus protocols.

But Zenit were having none of that. They promptly dispatched Berlin 3-0 with 15 points from Earvin Ngapeth and an incredible overall 64% (38/59) attacking efficiency.

Zenit had clinched first place in the pool with a match to spare, allowing coach Vladimir Alekno to field his reserves for the closing match against the Slovene side.

And even though ACH ran away with the first set, even the subs of the Russian powerhouse proved too difficult to master and Zenit wrapped it all up 3-1 for their sixth win of the season - one of only three teams, alongside Grupa Azoty Kedzierzyn-Kozle and Trentino Itas, to remain undefeated across the Champions League.

But for Berlin too there was a happy ending. After the final count was in upon the completion of all pools, they were in amongst the three best runners-up and moved up to the quarterfinals on set ratio.