Catania, Italy, July 15, 2015 – There are great expectations in Sicily this weekend with the return of top-level international volleyball as Italy host Russia, Belgium and Brazil in Pool G of the FIVB World Grand Prix.
It’s crunch time in the competition as this is the final week of the Preliminary Round in Group 1 when the teams for the Final Six will be determined.
Thursday will see Brazil face Russia and hosts Italy go up against Belgium.
On the eve of the competition, a press conference was held with the four coaches.
Italy coach Marco Bonitta said: “We are very focused because we want to qualify for the Final Six in Omaha. We know it will not be an easy pool, but we are very happy to count on the Sicilian public.”
Brazil’s Paulo Do Rego Barros Junior commented: “For us, these three games will not be easy, because, as we are simultaneously playing in the Pan-American Games, we had to split the team into two groups, but we want to give our best.”
Russia coach Yury Marichev said: “In our team, there are many young players that in these three days of games will have a good opportunity to gain experience.”
Belgium coach Gert Vande Broek stated: “Our realistic goal is to enter the top eight teams in the final standings. We must focus more on ourselves, instead of thinking about other teams.”