Stuttgart, Germany, February 25, 2018. Four is the magic number: only four times this year Allianz MTV STUTTGART have dropped a set. As they seem to be marching from triumph to triumph, the German team will start from the top position in the re-make of their CEV Cup quarterfinal fixture with domestic rivals DRESDNER SC after their 3-0 away victory a few days ago. 

Not such a bad interim result for STUTTGART’s Greek-born Ioannis Athanasopoulos (pictured), who is having his premiere as head coach this season. The same applies to Kim Renkema. The former player and team captain retired at the end of the last season and took over the position of Sports Director – although they both do not want to listen to any chorus of praise. “Our focus is on the next match. This is all, what counts,” says Athanasopoulos.

The next match is a situation they both like. On Wednesday, February 28 they host their archival DRESDNER SC in the Scharrena (19:00 CET) for the second game in the quarterfinals of the CEV Volleyball Cup. Both teams stand for emotional and well-fought battles at the net with many spectacular rallies guaranteeing the right level of entertainment for the fans.
Recently everything has been going well for STUTTGART. After a straight win in the first game of the CEV Cup quarterfinals in Dresden last Wednesday, they also celebrated a 3-0 sweep in the national competition at Rote Raben VILSBIBURG on Saturday.

The ride on the wave of success shall continue. All injured players did recover and Athanasopoulos has his full roster available for the most important part of the season.

Shortly before the national league Playoffs are to begin, the European challenges are next. “We are so close, now we want to reach the semi-finals in the CEV Cup,” says Kim Renkema. After joining the German Bundesliga in 2008 and starting their European adventure in 2011 after winning the German Cup for the first time, Allianz MTV STUTTGART have never reached the semi-finals of a European competition this far. They hope to make history soon. Not a bad interim result for the two “newbies” Renkema and Athanasopoulos so far, whether they want to hear it or not.