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Zaksa KEDZIERZYN-KOZLE have overcome great opposition to clinch the victory in the first quarterfinal match against Kuzbass KEMEROVO. Twice they came back from a set down and they managed to win the fifth set 16-14. 

Zaksa were unbeaten before this match, not even conceding one set along the way this Champions League. KEMEROVO startes as a razor in the opening set, running to a 12-5 lead early on. Zaksa had to regroup and after the loss of the first set they come back stronger winning the second 26-24. 

KEMEROVO took the initiative back and won 25-17, before seeing Zaksa once again win by two points: 28-26. The fifth also went into overtime, with Zaksa again on the right side of the score: 16-14.

Top scorer of the match was Victor Poletaev of KEMEROVO with 24, Kamil Semeniuk scored 19 for Zaksa.

Georghe Cretu, head coach of Kuzbass KEMEROVO: "I think that we missed opportunities, it was a game where we’ve created a lot of opportunities, but we were not able to use them, especially in the second set. We could have closed this game in a different way. We were fighting incredible for each ball, it was a great fight, but we should’ve used those important moments, maybe some cold blood might have helped us to finish those head-to-head situations inside of the sets. It’s clear that game today showed that there are two completely different teams, each one is able to win without doubts. And for this reason I’m really upset that we were not able to take the 5th set. But I’m really happy that we fought like crazy for each ball. We almost did an incredible turn of the fifth set."

Igor Kobzar, setter of Kuzbass KEMEROVO: "It’s a surprising kind of volleyball for us, nobody plays like that in the Championship of Russia: lots of defense, lots of saves and very small number of power attacks. It’s bitter to lose all the endings, because all the sets that we’ve lost were lost in endings. We know that this result leave us a good chance to get to the next stage. We gotta get up for it."

Nikola Grbic, head coach of Zaksa KEDZIERZYN-KOZLE: "I think that we’ve played against a really-really strong team, who played a great volleyball for a great part of the game. It was something that we were prepared for, because one of the things that Kuzbass is doing well is serving, so we were prepared for very aggressive servicing since the beginning and we knew that we need much patience if they start doing well, that we have to stay in the game and to continue to play without watching the result, but just to stay and keep up. So we were really good, especially in the 2nd, 4th, and 5th set because we kept them in reception and we were playing smart, so the only thing that we have to think about is the fifth set, when we were playing 9:2 and then we just came risking to lose this game eventually, because obviously they started again to risk, to serve, and we missed too many opportunities. But in the end its important that we won. The last thing, I’m really satisfied, but we must delete this victory and only think about the game that we’ll play in a week from now."

Benjamin Toniutti, setter of Zaksa KEDZIERZYN-KOZLE: "It was nice game for the fans, we knew that it would be really difficult to win here, and the athmospere here is amazing! Maybe we don’t expect so much to win in the beginning of the game, because at first we were surprised but then we started to play better. In the 5th set, we were ahead for 6-7 points and in the end we’ve almost lost the game! We are happy to return to Poland with the victory."