Chaumont VB 52 Haute-Marne finally returns to the Champions League, this Wednesday November 13 (7 p.m.), with a trip to the Germans Lüneburg, for the first day of the group stage. A journey that the Cévebists hope will be fruitful.
Five seasons that Chaumont VB 52 Haute-Marne has been waiting to return to the Champions League. So it's done this year and it starts this Wednesday, November 13, with the trip to Germany, to Lüneburg, for the first day of the group stage. Among the young Céveb team, there is impatience to discover the most prestigious of continental competitions, especially as they are few (read elsewhere) have already tasted it.
Joseph Worsley is notably one of them, he who, in addition to the joy of participating again, is entitled to a very special inaugural match, since he will return to his old club where his brother, Gage, libero of the German training. “It’s definitely a bit special. This is the first time in my career that I will face my brother. We spent fifteen years together in the same clubs, including Lüneburg which I am delighted to see again. I'm going to see a lot of friends that I knew there, and my father will be there too. »
Suffice to say that the challenge has a slightly more particular flavor for the American smuggler who does not hide his little extra motivation. “My brother and I call each other very regularly, almost every day. But there is a challenge that neither of us will want to lose (laughing). »
But beyond this fraternal battle, the Chaumontais captain knows how much this Champions League can transcend the players. “It’s an incredible competition! We face the best teams on the planet and the best players in the world. For our team, it is an exceptional experience to live. We will have to have a lot of fun, but not only that. We will also have to know how to stay focused and play at our best level. »
A first match already important
Especially since the result of this first match could have a significant impact for the future. “If we come back with a victory for Lüneburg, we will have taken a very important first step towards possible qualification for the rest of the competition. We know that Jastrzebski's Poles are the favorites of the group, but behind them, second place remains accessible,” admits Joseph Worsley.
Especially since after a delicate start to the season, the CVB 52 has recovered well in the last few weeks in the championship, finding, in the ranking, a level more in line with its ambitions. “We had a difficult start, facing strong Marmara Spikeligue teams,” recalls the American smuggler. “The team is not yet fully competitive, but we can clearly see that the pieces of the puzzle are falling into place and that the team is constantly progressing from week to week. »
Will it be enough to achieve success in Germany? The Chaumontais captain remains convinced of this. “The German championship is not like its French counterpart. If the teams at the top of the table are certainly equal to the good teams in Marmara Spikeligue, behind them, the level is much more heterogeneous than in France. Teams are not used to giving 100% every week. We will have to take advantage of our experience in this area to show our best face against Lüneburg. »
A club that the German center, Lukas Maase, also knows perfectly well, who also played there at the same time as its current captain, two years ago: an additional reason for the CVB 52 to find that little extra soul which would carry the team towards a very valuable first victory.
Chaumontais who, during their two adventures in the Champions League, have always managed to qualify during the group stage. So, never two without three?
Laurent Génin
The opponent
A major rival
If Chaumont VB 52 Haute-Marne returns to the Champions League for the third time, the Germans from Lüneburg find themselves there for the second time in a row. Fourth in the Bundesliga regular season last year, and stopped in the “play-off” semi-final by future champion Berlin, the Lüneburgers have once again started the current year well. Second (with 22 points), still behind Berlin (24 pts), Lüneburg has so far only suffered one defeat in seven days, against Düren.
However, the German championship is much more heterogeneous than the Marmara Spikeligue, and the latter has only reserved for future opponents of CVB 52, at the start of the competition, low-ranking teams (with the exception of Freiburg). . “It’s a team like ours, rather young,” explains Martin Stetka, the Chaumont statistician, who dissected no less than seven Lüneburg matches on video to prepare for the meeting on Wednesday, November 13.
“It’s a collective which is based on a good quality of service, and has an effective defensive system”, adds the Czech technician, who nevertheless sees some possible flaws: “if we manage to move their reception which is not always very reliable. »
An obligatory passage
Relying on the power of his “sharp” Ketrzynski and the solidity of the “boss of the defense”, Gage Worsley (the brother of the passer Cévebiste), Lüneburg can pose problems to the CVB 52. “I am sure that at our best level, we have the means to come back with victory,” says Martin Stetka, who has no doubts about the potential of the Chaumont group.
“We have excellent individuals, with one of the best, if not the best, passers in the championship, and talented young people like Mathis Henno or Jacob Pasteur, who need a little more maturity to gain in regularity. Without forgetting our central offices which are very interesting. »
The Champions League must therefore serve the ambitious goals of the Chaumontais. “With high-level matches which will build the experience of our players, our team will gain strength. In the “play-off”, we will present a completely different face than now,” assures the statistician.
cevebist.
This expected progression will therefore necessarily involve the duel against Lüneburg this Wednesday.
SVG Lüneburg
1. Simon Valentin Torwie (23 ans, 2,08 m) central
2. Blake Leeson (29 years old, 2.05 m) central (American)
3. Michael Patrick Wright (23 years old, 1.93 m) passer (American)
6. Gage Thomas Worsley (26 years old, 1.88 m) libero (American)
7. Joscha Kunstmann (21 years old, 2.01 m) central
8. Theo Wohwinkel (22 ans, 1,96 m) récep./attaq.
9. Oskar Espeland (23 years old, 1.95 m) reception/attack. (Norwegian)
10. Lorenz Karlitzek (25 ans, 1,96 m) récep./attaq.
11. Xander Wolf Ketrzynski (24 years old, 2.08 m) sharp (Canadian)
12. Cole Ketrzynski (23 years old, 2.04 m) reception/attack. (Canadian)
13. Neo Laumann (19 years old, 2.01 m) passer
18. Axel Valdemar Juul Larsen (20 years old, 2.03 m) sharp (Norwegian)
Coach : Stefan Huebner.
The buzz of the week
A trio of connoisseurs
Not many of them have already played in the Champions League in the current squad of Chaumont VB 52 Haute-Marne. Only three players have already participated in the most prestigious European cup. Joseph Worsley discovered her in 2020/21 with the Germans from Friedrichshafen, when Sebastian Closter approached her in 2022/23 with Montpellier. Finally, Josef Polak, played it last season with the Belgians Maaseik and knows how “this competition is incredible. There is none more beautiful. It's the best! “. All their other teammates will be able to taste it this season… with impatience and desire.
Chaumont VB 52 Haute-Marne
1. Worsley (cap.), 2. Durand (lib.), 3. Holdaway, 4. Henno, 5. Lefaivre, 7. Suihkonen, 8. Diop, 9. Toledo, 10. Lietzke, 15. Polak, 16. Maase, 17. Pastor, 19. Closter (lib.).
Coach : Silvano Prandi.
The French club program
Wednesday November 13
Champions League (1st day)
Group E
19 h : Lüneburg (ALL) – CVB 52
20 h 30 : Jastrzebski (POL) – Levski Sofia (BUL)
Group D
18 h : Halkbank Ankara (TUR) – Saint-Nazaire
CEV Cup (round of 16 first leg)
19 h 30 : Schöenwerd (SUI) – Tours
Challenge cup (round of 16 first leg)
17 h : Panathinaikos Athens (GRE) – Tourcoing
