International men’s pro volleyball report: Smith’s return boosts ZAKSA

This is Blair Lambert’s VolleyballMag.com weekly men’s professional volleyball report, featuring Americans around the world. Got a note about a player or a comment for Blair? Email him at blairlambert2@gmail.com

There was a break from CEV competitions with the Champions League playoffs starting this week. 

Dave Smith has returned from a calf injury to a ZAKSA Kędzierzyn-Koźle team that is in turmoil. The club did not qualify for the Polish Cup after the first half of the regular season, was on the brink of elimination from the Champions League, and was not in a position to qualify for the playoffs of the PlusLiga. This led to the coach, Tuomas Sammelvo, being fired.

Since Smith’s return, ZAKSA has won three in a row, claiming a must-win match over Knack Roeselare in the Champions League to advance to the playoffs and keep its goal of winning its fourth consecutive title alive. Smith has also helped his team win the last two PlusLiga matches, and is now just one point away from the last playoff spot.

He and Erik Shoji face Micah Ma’a, Nimir Abdel-Aziz, Earvin N’Gapeth, and Halkbank Ankara in the first round of the Champions League playoffs this week before an important domestic league match against TJ DeFalco and Asseco Resovia Rzeszów this weekend.

Poland

ZAKSA Kędzierzyn-Koźle beat Indykpol AZS Olsztyn as Smith had six kills, two blocks and four aces. Shoji passed 45 percent positively and 27 percent perfectly. Josh Tuaniga set Olsztyn to a .348 attack efficiency. Olsztyn then lost in five to PSG Stal Nysa. Tuaniaga started the first three sets.

Jake Hanes had 14 kills, a block and an ace for Cuprum Lubin in a five-set loss to Bogdanka LUK Lublin.

Resovia lost to twice. DeFalco had 14 kills, two aces and a block against CMC Warta Zawiercie and 12 kills, two blocks an ace against astrzębski Węgiel.

Italy

Gabi Garcia had 11 kills and two aces for Pallavolo Padova in a four-set victory over Valsa Group Modena.

Aleksandar Nikolov came off the bench in the third set and had 13 kills and four blocks for Lube Civitanova in a five-set win over last-place Farmitalia Catania.

Jeff Jendryk hit .750 on his way to six kills, two blocks and an ace for Gioiella Prisma Taranto in a loss to Sir Susa Vim Perugia. Kyle Russell had four kills, three aces and a block while…