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CEV Champions League Volley 2024 | Men
Today, we are discussing Pool E, featuring Cucine Lube CIVITANOVA (Italy), Greenyard MAASEIK (Belgium), VK Lvi PRAHA (Czech Republic), and the Romanian team C.S. Arcada GALATI. The opening game for this group will take place on November 22 in Italy, where the leader of Pool E, Civitanova, will host Galati.
Cucine Lube CIVITANOVA
Two-time Champions League champion (2002 and 2019), Cucine Lube CIVITANOVA, is embarking on the journey to the podium once again. Last year, the Italian team was halted in the Quarterfinals by Halkbank Ankara in the golden set. They also reached the final of the Italian SuperLega, where they faced Itas Trentino and suffered a defeat.
Changes have been made in the team's roster. The promising Turkish opposite, Adis Lagumdzija (211 cm height), starts a new chapter in his career after a successful season in Valsa Group Modena. Last year, he was the best scorer in SuperLega and the MVP of the CEV Cup. Civitanova is the fourth Italian team where he plays. We will see him and Italian superstar Ivan Zaytsev in the opposite positions this year. International players Luciano De Cecco (Argentina), Marlon Yant (Cuba), and Barthelemy Chinenyeze (France) will continue wearing Lube’s jersey alongside domestic stars Fabio Balaso, Simone Anzani, and Enrico Diamantini.
Greenyard MAASEIK
Greenyard MAASEIK from Belgium became CEV Cup silver medalists in the 2007-2008 season. They last participated in the Champions League in the 2021-2022 season, finishing last in Pool B and not qualifying further. Last season, the quarterfinalists of the CEV Cup completed the national league in second place. They aim to stand at the top of the podium this time, just like in 2018 and 2019. The squad, coached by Italian Fulvio Mertini, has a perfect mix of experienced players and young talents. The Belgian opposite Jolan Cox, middle blocker Elias Thys, and libero Martin Perin stay in the team. Estonian Renet Vanker will continue to wear Maaseik jersey as the setter, alongside the newcomer Dutch Joris Berkhout. Czech Adam Bartos remains as the outside hitter alongside promising Francisco Iribarne, Tino Hanzic, and Nazar Hetman. They also welcomed Czech Josef Polak for the middle blocker position.
VK Lvi PRAHA
VK Lvi PRAHA sensationally became the Champion of the Czech Republic last season, earning their ticket to the Champions League. Founded in 2005, this is the first gold in the team’s history, making it a challenging endeavor for them to immediately compete for the playoffs in the Champions League. Nevertheless, Lvi is currently in first place in their country's championship.
The reigning volleyball champions Lvi Praha have a well-occupied outside spiker position. In addition to domestic talents Daniel Čech and Jan Vodička, Cuban star Luis Estrada and 23-year-old Danish representative Oskar Madsen join the roster. Madsen played three years in Toulouse, and last season he was in Romanian Galati, where he celebrated the title. Lvi also welcomed Czech Josef Polak for the middle blocker position.
C.S. Arcada GALATI
The club from Romania has participated in the Champions League several times but has not yet entered the top 20 strongest teams. This time, the 5-time Romanian Champions finally made it to the 4th round, where they could compete for the playoffs. Last season, the team was eliminated in the early rounds, losing in the golden set. Nevertheless, the club won the Romanian Championship and became a finalist in the country's Cup and Super Cup.
Head coach Sergiu Stancu, working with the national team since 2021 and with the club since 2018, will lead the team in the upcoming competitive season. The team will feature captain Marian Bala, who signed a two-year agreement with the champion club, Andrei Butnaru, the 2.08 m center, and coach Sergiu Stancu. The team's new arrivals include Veniamin Aldea, a 1.94 m, 29-year-old player who plays in the center position and previously played for Baia Mare Exploration Science. Slovenian player Orban Toman, a 25-year-old libero, also joined from OK Budva in Montenegro. The team for the 2023-2024 season will also include center Andrei Butnaru, who extended his contract for another season.