Volleyball Double success of Ekaterinburg teams

A series of third tour team matches was held yesterday in Champions league, SE-Internet correspondent Vladimir PESNYA reports. Two Ekaterinburg clubs - men UEM-Izumrud and women Uralochka - played two successful matches. Having lost two matches Izumrud managed to show bright and powerful volleyball now. It played against Paris Volley club, League-2000/2001 winner, which is not in its best form this time. Nevertheless the first game was a disaster again - 17:25. Only in the second set Ekaterinburg team managed to improve its block game, which they are famous for in Russian championship. This inspired Russians, and they won the third set - 25:20. French team tried hard and managed to even the set score, but during the short fifth game Izumrud players avenged the opponents, Paris Volley was doomed - 15:6! This victory gives Izumrud a chance to enter the play-off.

Belgium, Group A: Noliko (Belgium) and Iraklis (Greece).

Uralochka played against Dames (Spain). Russian champions won two sets easily, thus accounting successive sets won in League-2000/2001 to eight. Uralochka allowed the opponents to gain only 14 points, losing the third set but defeating the opponents in the fourth.

Third tour is coming to the end today with two matches in men groups B and C. Next matches in Champions' league will be held next year.

                                    Vladimir PESNYA

Champions league

Men

Group A

Paris Volley (France) - UEM-Izumrud (RUSSIA) - 2:3 (25:17, 26:28, 20:25, 25:22, 6:15)

Group C

Damesa (Spain) - Uralochka (RUSSIA) - 1:3 (17:25, 20:25, 25:23, 14:25)