No chance for Olympic Winners

Outside temperature in Surgut during the All Star Game was -38C, but inside the hall was very very hot. Because the third All Star Game was the most star match in history of European club volleyball, nine Olympic champions took part in it! Seven USA Olympic Champions from Beijing 2008 and two Brazilian from 2004. Foreign players gave a real feat of volleyball in 2005 and 2008, but lost to the Russian team 1:3 and 0:3 respectively.

All Star Game video (russian language)

"Victory over Iskra helped Zenit regain our confidence, and it helped us in the All Star Game", said Lloy Ball. "Russians were tipped as favourites of the match, however they could not relax during the game. Our team become much stronger comparing with the previous year. We were ready to surprise our opponents".

"Before my move to Russia I always won All Star Matches, and I did not want to end this tradition. I did not train at the beginning of the year because of health problems, so I did not return to my best fitness", said Giba. "Anyway I feel wonderfully after our away game against Zenit." And about the All Star Game: "We lost the game, but I was happy to start the game with my Brazilian compatriot Dante".

Starting six of foreign players:
Ball, Stanley, Giba, Dante, Cvetanov, Titorenko and libero Lambourne

Russian starting six:
Khamuttskikh, Poltavskiy, Tetyukhin, Kosarev, Kazakov, Egorchey and libero Verbov

from sport-express

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