COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (Dec. 21, 2017) – Outside hitter Matt Anderson and Russia’s Zenit Kazan won the FIVB Club World Championship on Dec. 17 with a perfect set record of 15-0.
In the final, Kazan beat setter Micah Christenson, outside hitter Taylor Sander and Italy’s Cucine Lube Civitanova, 27-25, 25-22, 25-22. Anderson scored six points on five kills and one block. He was credited with 10 excellent receptions.
Christenson scored three points on two aces and one block. He was credited with 15 running sets and no faults. His team finished with a .316 hitting efficiency. Sander played as a substitute and did not score.
CEV CHAMPIONS LEAGUE
Anderson and Kazan are 2-0 in Champions League pool play after beating Germany’s Berlin Recycling Volleys, 25-20, 25-19, 25-27, 25-22 on Dec. 21. Anderson scored 11 points on 10 kills and one block. He was credited with 21 receptions, 52 percent positive. U.S. outside hitter Kyle Russell played as a substitute for Berlin.
Christenson, Sander and Civitanova beat Belgium’s Knack Roeselare, 25-22, 26-24, 25-22 on Dec. 21. Christenson scored four points on three blocks and one kill and set his team to a .352 hitting efficiency.
Italy’s Sir Safety Conad Perugia with outside hitter Aaron Russell and setter James Shaw improved to 2-0 in Champions League pool play with a 25-20, 25-21, 25-23 win over Turkey’s Fenerbahce SK Istanbul on Dec. 20. Russell scored six points on four kills, one block and one ace.
ITALY
Middle blocker Max Holt and Azimut Modena swept outside hitter Aaron Russell, setter James Shaw and Sir Safety Conad Perugia, 25-22, 25-23, 25-21 on Dec. 17. Holt scored three points on two kills and one ace. Russell scored three points on two blocks and one kill. Shaw played as a substitute.
Outside hitter Thomas Jaeschke and Tonno Callipo Calabria Vibo Valentia swept opposite Ben Patch and Tonno Callipo Calabria Vibo Valentia, 25-19, 25-21, 25-22. Jaeschke scored 11 points on 10 kills and one block. Patch started the first and third sets and scored three points on three kills.
Setter Kawika Shoji, outside hitter Jake Langlois and Gi Group Monza beat Bunge Ravenna, 20-25, 25-19, 25-17, 25-21 on Dec. 17. Shoji scored three points on one kill, one block and one ace and set his team to a .463 hitting efficiency. Langlois played as a substitute.
Middle blocker Taylor Averill and Revivre Milano beat BCC Castellana Grotte, 25-16, 25-20, 25-13 on Dec. 17.
Libero Erik Shoji and Taiwan Excellence Latina fell to Kioene Padova, 25-20, 25-23, 25-23 on Dec. 17. Shoji was credited with 17 receptions, 29 percent positive. Averill scored two points on two kills.
POLAND
Middle blocker David Smith and Aluron Virtu Warta Zawiercie beat BBTS Bielsko-Biala, 24-26, 29-27, 25-22, 21-25, 15-12 on Dec. 18. Smith scored 13 points on 10 kills and three blocks.
FRANCE
Middle blo
cker Mitch Stahl and Paris beat Tourcoing, 25-20, 20-25, 25-22, 25-17 on Dec. 17. Stahl scored 11 points on seven kills, two blocks and two aces.