December 30th, 2015: Muserskiy is NOT going to play at the EOQT next week. Coach Alekno’s Final Roster:
Setters: Kovalev, Grankin
Outside Hitters: Tetyukhin, Berezhko, Kliuka, Markin
Opposite Hitters: Mikhaylov, Bakun
Middle Blockers: Volvich, Ashev, Volkov, Scherbinin
Liberos: Obmochaev, Verbov
Is this team strong enough to make it the Olympics?
If Russia fails to qualify, we won’t be surprised if Muserskiy gets the blame.
December 24th, 2015:
We have a feeling this is temporary and that he will rejoin the National Team at the European Olympic Qualification in a couple of weeks.
If indeed he is NOT going to play, then Russia is SCREWED.
According to this article by rsport.ru, Dima has decided to skip the upcoming tourney due to “family reasons”.
The middle blocker has also released a statement via business-gazeta.ru
“I cannot help the team due to family reasons.
I have already talked with Coach Alekno and he understands my decision. On the other hand, the Russian Volleyball Federation did not fully accept my withdrawal from the team.
I really had no choice. I just hope that one day they will understand my decision.
I believe that the team will be okay without my presence and win a ticket to the Olympics. They will most likely play even better without me because I am not in the best shape to play volleyball at the moment.
Good luck to my teammates. I will cheer for you from the bottom of my heart.”
Just like what Muserskiy said, the President of the Russian Volleyball Federation,Stanislav Shevchenko, has released a statement that no one is happy with Dima’s excuse.
“In my opinion, he has betrayed his team. He is a traitor. The rest of the team are training despite having their own personal problems. Just like him, these players also have families. Other guys came despite the fact that they have their own problems and they also have families. He is not a loss.”
Coach Alekno has declined to comment on the issue.
Stay tuned!
Take note, the winner of the European Olympic Qualification Tourney qualifies for the 2016 Olympics. The 2nd and 3rd ranked teams will advance to the World Olympic Qualification Tourney in May and will be hosted by Japan.
(images: FIVB/ cev.lu)