MNT Update: Anderson and Ziraat Bankkart Make CEV Champions League Semis

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (March 4, 2024) – Men’s volleyball action overseas is heating up!

Matt Anderson and Türkiye’s Ziraat Bankkart Ankara have advanced to the semifinals of the CEV Champions League. TJ DeFalco and Poland’s Asseco Resovia Rzeszów will play Matthew Knigge and Germany’s SVG Lüneburg in the finals of the CEV Cup. Taylor Averill and Poland’s Projekt Warszawa won the CEV Challenge Cup.

CEV CHAMPIONS LEAGUE

Türkiye’s Ziraat Bankkart Ankara with outside hitter/opposite Matt Anderson advanced to the semifinals of the CEV Champions League after going 1-1 with Spain’s Guaguas Las Palmas in the quarterfinals.

On Feb. 22, Ankara beat Las Palmas, 3-1 (17-25, 25-23, 25-21, 25-23) on Feb. 22. Anderson scored 16 points on 13 kills (.462 hitting efficiency), two blocks and one ace.

On Feb. 28, Ankara lost to Las Palmas, 3-0 (25-17, 25-21, 25-18). The teams played a golden set to break the tie and Ankara won 15-7. Anderson did not play in the match.

Ankara will play Poland’s Jastrzębski Węgiel in the semifinals

Setter Micah Ma’a and Türkiye’s host Halkbank Ankara did not advance after dropping two matches to Italy’s Cucina Lube Civitanova.

On Feb. 21, Halkbank lost 3-1 (25-21, 25-21, 25-27, 25-21). Ma’a scored three points on three kills and set Ankara to a .441 hitting efficiency. On Feb. 28, Ankara fell again, 3-1 (25-23, 20-25, 25-15, 25-23). Ma’a scored one point with a kill and set Ankara to a .410 hitting efficiency.

Germany’s Berlin Recycling Volleys with outside hitter Cody Kessel lost both quarterfinal matches to Italy’s Itas Trentino.

On Feb. 21, Berlin fell, 3-0 (25-18, 25-17, 25-17). Kessel played as a substitute and scored one point with a kill. On Feb. 29, Berlin fell 3-0 (25-19, 25-20, 25-22). Kessel played as a substitute and started the third set. He scored four points on three kills and one block.

CEV CUP

Poland’s host Asseco Resovia Rzeszów and outside hitter TJ DeFalco advanced to the final of the CEV Cup where they will play Germany’s SVG Lüneburg with U.S. middle blockers Blake Leeson and Matthew Knigge and libero Gage Worsley.

On Feb. 21, Resovia Rzeszów won its first semifinal match, beating Türkiye’s Fenerbahce PRL Istanbul, 3-1 (25-12, 25-17, 22-25, 25-21). DeFalco played as a substitute and scored two points on two kills.

On Feb. 29, Resovia Rzeszów won again 3-0 (25-17, 25-14, 28-26). DeFalco started the first two sets and scored 15 points on 11 kills, two blocks and two aces.

SVG Lüneburg advanced by going 1-1 against Türkiye’s Arkas Izmir and then winning a golden set. On Feb. 21, Lüneburg won 3-0 (27-25, 25-23, 25-20). Knigge scored nine points on seven kills and two blocks. Worsley was credited with 12 receptions, 25 percent positive.

On Feb. 28, Lüneburg won 3-1 (17-25, 25-23, 30-28, 25-18). It won the golden set 15-8. Knigge scored 14 points on eight kills, a match-high five blocks and one ace. Leeson started the final four sets and scored six points on three kills, two blocks and one ace. Worsley was credited with 16 receptions, 44 percent positive.

CEV CHALLENGE CUP

Poland’s host Projekt Warszawa and middle blocker Taylor Averill won the CEV Challenge Cup with two wins over Italy’s Vero Volley Monza. Averill did not play in either match.

TÜRKIYE

Micah Ma’a and Halkbank improved to 21-0 with two wins over the last two weeks and still leads the league.

On Feb. 17, Halkbank beat Kuşgöz İzmir Vinç Akkuş Belediye, 3-0 (25-18, 25-15, 25-14). Ma’a scored eight points on five kills, two blocks and one ace. He set his team to a .562 hitting efficiency. On Feb. 24, Halkbank defeated Bigadic Bld, 3-0 (25-12, 25-16, 25-16). Ma’a played as a substitute.

Matt Anderson and Ziraat Bankkart (15-6) went 0-2 in their last two matches.

On Feb. 17, Ziraat Bankkart fell to Fenerbahçe Parolapara, 3-0 (25-23, 25-21, 25-22). Anderson led all scorers with 19 points on 16 kills (.483), two blocks and one ace. On Feb. 24, Spor Toto beat Ziraat Bankkart, 3-2 (26-24, 11-25, 19-25, 25-22, 26-24). Anderson did not play.

JAPAN

Outside hitter Thomas Jaeschke and the Panasonic Panthers (28-2) went 3-1 in their last four matches and continue to lead the league.

On Feb. 17, the Panthers beat Wolfdogs Nagoya, 3-2 (25-23, 19-25, 25-17, 12-25, 16-14). Jaeschke scored 12 points in nine kills and three aces. On Feb. 18, the Wolfdogs came back to beat the Panthers 3-2 (25-17, 25-23, 19-25, 22-25, 15-9). Jaeschke started the first set and did not score.

The Panthers beat the Nippon Steel Sakai Blazers, 3-1 (25-22, 25-20, 20-25, 25-22) on Feb. 23. Jaeschke did not play. The Panthers beat Nippon again on Feb. 24, 3-1 (22-25, 38-36, 25-15, 25-21). Jaeschke scored 10 points on eight kills and two blocks.

Congratulations to Aaron Russell and wife Kendall who welcomed daughter Rylee Ena in February!

Russell and JT Thunders Hiroshima (20-10) went 2-2 in their last four matches.

Hiroshima fell to the Toray Arrows, 3-2 (34-36, 25-23, 25-21, 17-25, 17-15) on Feb. 17 and again on Feb. 18, 3-0 (25-21, 25-16, 25-20). Russell did not play in either match to be with his family.

On Feb. 24, Russell returned, and Hiroshima beat the VC Nagano Tridents 3-0 (25-21, 25-16, 25-21). Russell scored 15 points on 13 kills, one block and one ace. Hiroshima swept Nagano again on Feb. 25 (25-21, 25-22, 25-23). Russell scored 19 points on 15 kills, three blocks and one ace.

POLAND

Grupa Azoty Kędzierzyn-Koźle (11-11) has won its last two matches, starting with a 3-0 (25-19, 25-18, 25-19) victory over Enea Czarni Radom on Feb. 16. Match MVP Erik Shoji had nine digs and 14 receptions. Middle blocker David Smith did not play.

Kędzierzyn-Koźle followed that up with a 3-1 (20-25, 25-22, 25-23, 25-23) win over Barkom Kazany Lviv on Feb. 24. Shoji had eight digs. Smith did not play.

Projekt Warszawa with Taylor Averill is 18-4 and in third place in the league. On Feb. 18, Warsaw defeated Trefl Gdansk 3-0 (25-20, 25-20, 25-20). Averill did not play.

Indykpol AZS Olsztyn (10-13) and setter Josh Tuaniga picked up a 3-1 (25-21, 18-25, 26-24, 25-20) victory over Asseco Resovia Rzeszów (16-7) and TJ DeFalco on Feb. 17. Tuaniga had 18 assists and an ace while splitting duties with fellow setter Karol Jankiewicz. For Rzeszów, DeFalco had 15 points on 13 kills, one ace and a block.

On Feb. 26, Indykpol dropped a tough 3-2 match (18-25, 25-23, 23-25, 25-20, 15-10) to GKS Katowice. Tuaniga had 11 digs and led his team to a .396 hitting efficiency in the loss.

Rzeszów lost its second straight match on Feb. 25 to Exact Systems Hemarpol Częstochowa, 3-1 (17-25, 25-19, 25-20, 27-25). DeFalco scored 14 points on 13 kills and an ace. For Częstochowa, U.S. outside hitter Kaleb Jenness started the first set and collected a kill.

After defeating Ślepsk Malow Suwałki on Feb. 12, KGHM Cuprum Lubin (5-17) dropped a pair of matches. Aluron CMC Warta Zawiercie defeated Lubin 3-1 (25-18, 25-21, 19-25, 25-19) on Feb. 17. Opposite Jake Hanes led Lubin in the loss with 13 points on 10 kills, two aces and a block.

Jastrzębski Węgiel defeated Lubin 3-1 (21-25, 25-11, 25-16, 25-20) on Feb. 24. Hanes again paced Lubin with 16 kills on 14 kills and two blocks.

ITALY

In the Italian SuperLega, Gabi Garcia of Pallavolo Padova (7-13) played the full match in a 3-0 loss (25-17, 25-21, 25-23) against Sir Susa Vim Perugia (15-5) on February 18. Garcia recorded four kills. In the previous match against Catania on February 14, Padova took a 3-2 win (25-23, 21-25, 25-20, 19-25, 15-11). Garcia scored 13 points on 12 kills and one ace.

Padova fell to Vero Volley Monza 3-1 (25-20, 25-18, 23-25, 25-12) on Feb. 24. Garcia started the first two sets and scored one point on a kill.

Prisma Taranto Volley (3-19) with middle blocker Jeff Jendryk and opposite Kyle Russell fell to Modena 3-2 (22-25, 25-19, 25-21, 25-27, 15-9) on Feb. 14. Jendryk scored 10 points on eight kills, one block and one ace. Russell played as a substitute and scored four points on four kills.

On Feb. 17, Taranto beat Piacenza, 3-2 (25-23, 21-25, 25-21, 27-29, 15-13). Jendryk scored four points on four kills. Russell started the final three sets and scored eight points on six kills and two aces. On Feb. 25, Taranto fell to Milano 3-1 (27-29, 25-22, 25-14, 25-21). Jendryk started the first three sets and scored seven points on seven kills. Russell played as a substitute and scored three points on three kills.

Rana Verona (13-9) with opposite Francesco Sani won vs. Piacenza 3-1 on Feb. 14 (25-22, 25-15, 20-25, 25-21) but fell to Milano 0-3 (20-25, 23-25, 16-25) on Feb. 18.  On Feb. 25, Verona beat Cisterna Volley, 3-0 (25-22, 25-19, 28-26).

Sani played as a substitute in all three matches, but did not score.

RUSSIA

Setter Micah Christenson and Zenit Kazan (22-3) have won their last two matches. On Feb. 18, Zenit Kazan beat Kuzbass Kemerovo, 3-0 (25-18, 25-22, 25-12). Christenson scored one point with a block. He set Kazan to a .636 hitting efficiency.

On Feb. 25, Zenit Kazan beat Ural Ufa, 3-0 (25-15, 25-19, 25-22). Christenson scored one point with an ace. He set Kazan to a .362 hitting efficiency.

FRANCE

Chaumont Volley-Ball 52 (17-5) with middle blockers Patrick Gasman and Michael Marshman leads the league with victories in its last two matches.

On Feb. 17, Chaumont beat Sète, 3-1 (22-25, 25-17, 26-24, 25-18). Marshman scored 13 points on 10 kills, two blocks and one ace. Gasman did not play. U.S. middle Dan McDonnell scored nine points on eight kills and one block. U.S. setter Joe Worsley scored a point with a block and set Chaumont to a .469 hitting efficiency.

On Feb. 23, Chaumont swept Tourcoing (25-14, 25-18, 25-14). Gasman scored seven points on four kills and three blocks. Marshman added four points on four kills. Worsley scored two points with a block and an ace. He set the team to a .440 hitting efficiency.

St-Nazaire (11-11) with opposite Kyle Ensing, outside hitter Jordan Ewert and setter Quinn Isaacson went 1-1 in its last two matches. On Feb. 17, it beat Poitiers, 3-0 (25-23, 25-15, 25-22). Ensing scored 11 points on nine kills, one block and one ace. Ewert added eight points on seven kills and one block. Isaacson did not play.

On Feb. 24, St-Nazaire fell to Toulouse, 3-2 (25-17, 23-25, 25-20, 17-25, 19-17). Ensing scored 17 points on 14 kills and three blocks. Ewert added 16 points on 15 kills and one block. Isaacson scored five points on two kills and three blocks. He set the team to a .342 hitting efficiency.

Libero Kyle Dagostino and Narbonne (3-17) lost to Paris on Feb. 24, 3-0 (25-15, 25-17, 25-17). Dagostino was credited with 15 receptions, 40 percent positive.

CHINA

On Feb. 25 in the Championship Round, Beijing BAIC with middle blocker Max Holt defeated Shanghai Guangming, 3-1 (25-20, 25-17, 12-25, 25-19).

GERMANY

Cody Kessel and the Berlin Recycling Volleys (19-2) beat SVG Luneburg on Feb. 27, 3-2 (25-16, 25-20, 20-25, 21-25, 15-9). Kessel played as a substitute and scored one point with a block. For Luneburg, Blake Leeson and Matthew Knigge each scored seven points on five kills, one block and one ace. Gage Worsley was credited with 16 receptions, 31 percent positive.

AUSTRIA

Libero Tim McIntosh and Hypo Tirol (18-0) won the league’s regular-season title. On Feb. 25, the team won its first playoff quarterfinal match over host VCA Amstetten NÖ by default after Amstetten’s arena was not ready in time for a match due to some junior matches.

The teams are scheduled to play again on March 2.

NETHERLANDS

Nova Tech Lycurgus with outside hitter Kyle McCauley has lost its first two playoff matches. In the second match on Feb. 24, Lycurgus fell to Draisma Dynamo, 3-0 (25-19, 25-19, 25-23). McCauley led his team with 15 points on 14 kills and one ace. U.S. setter Cole Bogner scored three points on a kill, a block and an ace.

FINLAND

On Feb. 18, libero Troy Gooch and Hurrikaani-Loimaa (20-5) beat Karelian Hurmos 3-1 (25-23, 22-25, 25-20, 25-19). Gooch was credited with 26 receptions, 63 percent positive. U.S. outside hitter Greg Petty led all scorers with 24 points on 20 kills, one block and three aces.

On Feb. 25, Loimaa won 3-0 (25-22, 25-10, 25-13) over Ability Betset. Gooch did not play Petty started the first two sets and scored nine points on nine kills.