Michael Saeta and Taylor Averill Shine in #CLVolleyM Victory

2018-2019 CEV Champions League – First Round

• CEV Champions League Landing Page

Chaumont VB 52 HM Def. Viking TIF Bergen 3-0 (25-15, 25-20, 25-8)

• Complex Sportif Rene-Tys, REIMS, FRANCE
• Attendance: 620
• Chaumont wins the match up and advances to the 2nd Round of the Champions League to face CV Teurel of Spain; Viking TIF Bergen is eliminated from the Champions League and will move to the 16th Finals (2nd Round) of the CEV Cup

Taylor Averill played his first match for Chaumont over the weekend in their 3-0 defeat to Poitiers. After spending 3 years in Italy (2 in Padova and last year with Milan), Averill is now getting to his first action in the Champions League. While he was on the bench last week after returning from a bronze medal performance in the FIVB World Championships, Averill was 1 of 3 players to score 9 points in the sweep for Chaumont. His points came from 6 kills, 1 block, and 2 aces. He and Michael Saeta established an efficient connection in the middle with Averill hitting .750 (75%) without committing an attack error.

Saeta also put forth quite a remarkable performance. He not only established an exemplary connection with Averill, but everyone else on the team too. The former setter from UC Irvine set Chaumont to a downright blistering .673 (71%) attack average. There was only one player in the squad who hit below .500. The opposite Wassim Ben Tara hit .417 (50%) on his way to 6 kills. Saeta also tied the match-high total for points. He has a kill and also contributed 8 points from the service line. It is incredibly rare that a setter and middle-blocker share the high-scorer title in a match  that ends in a victory.

Baptiste Geiler also scored 9 points on 7 kills and 2 blocks. The outside hitter hit .500 and only played in the first 2 sets. He was replaced by Martin Atanasov, who scored 5 points on 2 kills and 3 blocks. Matej Patak hit a perfect 1.000 from the other outside hitter position. He finished with 8 points on 6 kills and 2 blocks. Blair Bann had passer ratings of 88% positive and 63% perfect.

Viking from Norway simply met an opponent that outclassed them in all facets of the match. They only hit .075 (34%) as a team, did not register a block (as opposed to 8 for Chaumont), and only scored 1 point from the service line. Anders Roneid led his team with 6 points on 6 kills and a .667 (67%) hitting percentage in the middle. Vetle Hyland scored 4 points at opposite but with a -.200 (20%) attack average.  Ryan Manoogian, formerly of Long Beach State and Penzugyor in Hungary, made his debut in the  Champions League. He was used as a libero in the 3rd set and received 4 serves. he finised with 75% of his passes being rated as positive and 25% being perfect. No other player scored more than 3 points for Viking, who will be relegated to the CEV Cup moving forward.