2017 CEV Volleyball Cup – Women.

Stuttgart, Germany, January 11, 2017. Germany’s vice champions Allianz MTV STUTTGART defeated Estonia’s reigning national champs KOHILA VC in the first round of the 2017 CEV Volleyball Cup – Women 16th Finals (3-0; 25-13, 25-17, 25-12), thus celebrating a perfect start to their European journey this season.

The Spanish-born coach of STUTTGART, Guillermo Naranjo Hernández, was able to give all available players sufficient time on the court and to test a few ‘deviations’ from the usual starting six. The return match in Tallinn scheduled for January 25, at 7 p.m. local time, will take place just four days before the German Cup final in the SAP-Arena in Mannheim. Allianz MTV STUTTGART will be facing SCHWERINER SC, the current leader of the pack in the German Bundesliga, for their third possible national cup title after those seized in 2011 and 2015.

KOHILA VC had previously defeated Luka BAR from Montenegro 3-1 and 3-2 in the first round of the 2017 CEV Volleyball Champions League, before losing to Serbia’s Vizura BEOGRAD by 2-3 and 0-3, thus moving to the CEV Volleyball Cup. The team had difficulties reaching Stuttgart via Brussels and Frankfurt and arrived only a few hours prior to the game.

It was KOHILA’s great talent Kertu Laak and MVP of the match, who scored 13 points in the game, to deliver the match point with a serve straight over the court into the stands.

Julia Mõnnakmäe, team captain of KOHILA VC, said: “What we showed today is not our real level, but hey: STUTTGART is really strong on all positions. We had many problems coming here and arrived only three or four hours before the game, but this is no excuse for us. We can definitely deliver a better performance.”

Guillermo Naranjo Hernández, head coach of Allianz MTV STUTTGART said: “For me it was a very good to test a few variations. KOHILA VC may not have such a good level, but they were able to push us. We had to remain focussed all the time. This was a good experience and I am happy that we did not lose one set and I could give some of our reserve players the opportunity to perform. They did very well.”

Julia Schaefer, young talent of Allianz MTV STUTTGART, scored 12 times and said after the match: “Another thing checked off the list: first time as a starter in a CEV Cup game. I really enjoyed my time on the court.”