COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (April 26, 2017) – Setter Micah Christenson is a busy man this spring as his Italian team Cucine Lube Civitanova is competing in the finals of both the Italian league and the CEV Champions League.
On April 25, Civitanova beat Diatec Trentino in the first game of the Italian league championship series, 25-18, 25-20, 25-17. Christenson was named the match MVP after finishing with six points on three kills, one block and two aces. He set his team to a .564 hitting efficiency.
On April 29 in Rome, Civitanova will play Italy’s Sir Safety Conad Perugia in the semifinals of the CEV Champions League. The winner will play the winner of the other semifinal match between U.S. Men’s player Matt Anderson and Russia’s Zenit Kazan and Germany’s Berlin Recycling Volleys.
Christenson will also be answering questions via social media on Friday at 9-10 a.m. PT. Just post a question with the hashtag #AskMicah to Twitter, Instagram or Facebook.
CEV Champions League matches are being shown online at laola1.tv.
- Berlin Recycling Volleys vs. Zenit Kazan, 7:30 a.m. PDT
- Sir Safety Conad Perugia vs. Cucine Lube Civitanova, 10:30 a.m. PDT
- Champions League Bronze Medal Match, 7 a.m. PDT
- Champions League Gold Medal Match, 10 a.m. PDT
RUSSIA
Libero Erik Shoji, setter Kawika Shoji and Lokomotiv Novosibirsk have advanced in the league playoffs after winning two matches against Nova Novokuybyshevsk. Novosibirsk won the second match, 24-26, 25-14, 25-20, 25-18 on April 23. Erik Shoji was credited with 13 receptions, 31 percent positive. Kawika Shoji scored two points on one kill and one ace and set his team to a .545 hitting efficiency.
NCAA UPDATE
The bracket is set for the NCAA Men’s Division I-II National Championship in Columbus, Ohio. In the play-in matches on May 2, No. 3 seed BYU will play No. 6 seed Barton with the winner advancing to play No. 2 seeded Long Beach State in the semifinals on May 4. In the second play-in match, No. 4 seed Hawaii will face No. 5 Penn State with the winner playing No. 1 seed and defending champion Ohio State in the semifinals.
The semifinals will be streamed live on NCAA.com and the championship match will be broadcast live on Saturday May 6 at 7 p.m. ET on ESPNU.
Among the players with ties to the U.S. Men’s National Team, Long Beach State outside hitter T.J. DeFalco and setter Josh Tuanigawere both named to the MPSF All-Tournament Team and DeFalco was named MVP. DeFalco also won the Off the Block Karch Kiraly Award for nation’s top outside attacker.
Outside hitter Jake Langlois, who has played on Pan American Cup teams, Brenden Sander, who played at the Pan American Cup and opposite Ben Patch, who played on the Pan American Cup team, will all compete for BYU at the tournament.
POLAND
Outside hitter Thomas Jaeschke and Asseco Resovia Rzeszów finished their season in fourth place after going 0-2 against Jastrzębski Węgiel in the series to decide third place. In the second match on April 23, Węgiel won, 24-26, 17-25, 25-21, 28-26, 15-9. Jaeschke started the match and led his team with 20 points on a match-high six blocks, 13 kills and one ace. He was credited with 21 receptions, 52 percent positive.
FRANCE
Middle blocker Dan McDonnell and Chaumont lead GFC Ajaccio VB, 2-0 in their semifinal series. On April 22, Chaumont beat Ajaccio, 25-23, 26-24, 25-23. McDonnell scored eight points on seven kills and one block. On April 26, Chaumont won, 25-18, 26-28, 25-21, 25-22. McDonnell scored eight points on five kills and three blocks. The teams are scheduled to play again on April 29.
TURKEY
Middle blocker David Lee and Ziraat Bankasi are playing for third place against Fenerbahce after falling to Halkbank in the semifinals, 2-1. In the deciding match against Halkbank, Ziraat Bankasi fell, 27-25, 19-25, 25-19, 25-21. Lee scored seven points on six kills and one block. In the first match against Fenerbahce on April 25, Ziraat Bankasi won, 25-19, 18-25, 25-21, 25-20. Lee scored seven points on five kills, one block and one ace.