Yeltsin Cup 2015
19th June, day 3

Match China – Kazakhstan.

Chinese youngsters showed great volleyball tonight beating experienced Kazakhstan team in four sets 3:1 (25:19,25:12, 22:25, 25:19)

Oleksandr Gutor, Head coach of Kazakhstan
It means a lot when a National team is playing – it means there must be team work there. In our case some players are not able to serve receive some are not able to play defense. Our level is quite low. We made a lot of mistakes in serve receive, our libero did not train enough. But if we were able to win the third set it means we could have fought for the match.

Youquan Chen, head coach of China
We were getting ready for this match before we came to this tournament. Third set we lost because Kazakhstan has more experience. We are still lacking that part.

Yeltsin Cup 2015
19th June, day 3
Match Israel – Czech Republic

Yeltsin Cup-2015,
In first match met ladies of Czech Republic and Israel.
Since the beginning of game Czechs took the initiative. They were more focused and confident and first set without any visible efforts -25:17. After losing first set, Israeli girls reinforced their block and defense but nevertheless Czech’s team managed to defend the second set with 25:23. Throughout the third set Czech team did not allow the opponent to come close 25:14 and 3:0 brings Czech team first victory at this tournament.

And, as always, interviews from head coaches:

Carlo Parisi, head coach of the Czech Republic:
“It was very important to win this match! To raise the spirit of whole team after two hard defeats. The match might have looked like it was simple, but coaching staff saw how nervous the players were. So the win was not easy. At this time the most important is to stay motivated for the match with Kazakhstan. We will spend our day off working on our mistakes.”

Arie Selinger, head coach of Israel:
“Today nothing went our way, we did not play. Perhaps because of yesterday’s match. Victory made us too hopeful and relaxed..We were able to win today, but the girls were just standing still. There was not team work there. Now we will rest and get ready for tomorrow’s difficult match against China “

In second day of Yeltsin Cup-2015, on 18th June, in first match played national team of Kazakhstan against national team of Israel. For Israel’s team this match became the second one on this tournament. (The day before Israel’s team was crushed by Russian’s national team in three sets). For Kazakhstan this game was the first.

From the first seconds on the arena Israel’s team started to attack their rivals. And, obviously, team of Kazakhstan answered with strongest defense. In fierce battle, Israel has won the set with a score 26:24.

In second set, Kazakhstan struck back and confidently won the set with a score 25:22.
In the beginning of third set Kazakhstan’s team took all the initiative, but with strong support from Israel’s fans and successfully used the mistakes of their rivals, Israel became winner of the third set with a score 25:18.

And finally, in the fourth set in titanic struggle national team of Israel ended set 25:23 and all match (3:1)

After match interviews with head coaches :

Arie Selinger, head coach of Israel:
“Kazakhstan is not Russia. Today we were less tense, and could play our own volleyball. That is why today we were able to win”.

Oleksandr Gutor, head coach of Kazakhstan:
“Well, what can I say … we made a lot of mistakes today. That is the worst part of this match. I hope tomorrow we will avoid many terrible mistakes”.
On 19th June, tomorrow, Israel will meet Czech Republic, and Kazakhstan will face China’s national team.

17th of June, at the Palace of Sports “Uralochka” solemnly opened Yeltsin Cup-2015! In the capital of Ural brought together representatives of five national teams: from Russia, China, Israel, Kazakhstan and the Czech Republic.

In the first match of the Yeltsin Cup-2015 met teams of China and Czech Republic. The match ended with the score 3: 1 (25:20; 18:25; 29:27; 25:23) in favor of Chinese national team. China has brought to this tournament his youth team (age 23 or less), Czech Republic played with main squad. Importantly, Chinese national team had strong support on the arena, almost 2/3 of the seats were occupied by Asian fans. Also, the game was commented by the head coaches of national teams.

Youquan Chen, head coach of China:
“Czech Republic national team is a very strong, but today fortune was on our side .In my opinion, the main opponent at this tournament will be the national team of Russia”.

Carlo Parisi, head coach of Czech Republic:
“This is our first match after months of training, something was very good, but there were many errors. Chinese team skillfully used our mistakes. I can’t name the main opponent, because for today all remaining teams have good chances. Everyone is strong. This tournament is a test before the Grand Prix!”.

Right after the match started opening ceremony of Yeltsin Cup-2015. By the beat of drums, on the main arena, was a parade of national teams. By Old Russian tradition, all five teams have been met with bread and salt, and each player got a crown made of ural flowers. Guests and participants of the Cup were welcomed by top officials of the region and city. The main guest of tournament – Naina Yeltsina, watched the opening from the seats. First vice-chairman of Sverdlovsk government, Vladimir Vlasov, on behalf of the Governor of Sverdlovsk region Yevgeny Kuyvashev and regional government congratulated everyone with the opening of Yeltsin Cup-2015. By his words, inhabitants of Ural are very interested in volleyball and love it. Also, he wished to everyone a fair play. Mayor of Yekaterinburg Yevgeny Roizman noted that in volleyball – the most beautiful girls. He was supported by the chairman of the Regional Volleyball Federation, member of the Legislative Assembly of Sverdlovsk region Valeri Saveliev.

Philharmonic Children’s Choir sang the Russian national anthem, and Yeltsin Cup-2015 officially opened.

In the second match of the Yeltsin Cup-2015 met national teams of Russia and Israel. The match ended with the score 3: 0 (25:11; 25:14; 25:13) in favor of the Russians. Russian athletes have played incredibly harmoniously and accurately.

However, this is what head coaches told about their teams.

Arie Selinger, head coach of Israel:
“We still have a lot of work. We don’t have enough experience, because we are very young. This is the first game of the season for us. Russia, unfortunately, now is too strong for us. By age we are more targeted to China. And, of course, thanks a lot to the support team of Israel on the seats, we really need your support”.

Yuri Marichev, head coach of Russia:
“About the teamwork, of course, is too early to speak, we are just beginning to understand the game of each member of the team. Today, I saw some problems in block and defense. But we are here to find out where we have to work harder. Our team is not formed completely, some of us are absent due to injury. But if the situation will be critical, we will use all our reserve forces”.

On the second day of the Yeltsin Cup-2015, on 18th June, at the Palace of Sports “Uralochka” will be two matches. The first one is Kazakhstan against Israel, at 5 p.m. The second one is Russia against Czech Republic at 7.15 p.m. We remind you, Yeltsin Cup-2015 will end on 21th June.

Entrance to the games, traditionally, free!