Fenerbahce and Milano stay unbeaten in #CLVolleyW, Budowlani with first win

On Tuesday evening, Leg 2 of the 4th Round of the CEV Champions League Volley 2024 - Women kicked off with three thrilling match-ups. However, the favourites didn't allow any surprises, thus Fenerbahce Opet Istanbul, Allianz Vero Volley Milano stay unbeaten leaders of their respective pools, once Grot Budowlani Łódź earned their first win in this campaign.

Calcit Kamnik - Grot Budowlani Łódź 1-3 (22-25, 25-14, 18-25, 17-25)

At Sportna Dvorana Tivoli in Ljubljana, Calcit Kamnik and Grot Budowlani Łódź locked horns battling it out for the first victory in this #CLVolleyW campaign. The hosts opened the game better, leading 7-4 after great plays by Andelka Radiskovic and Masa Pucelj, but Budowlani, powered by Marta Pol (100% success attack!) came back from behind quickly, taking over the control and winning the opener 25-22. It didn't discourage the players of Calcit Kamnik, who played almost flawless in the second set. Masa Pucelj was a leader of the team, hammering 8 points and having 70% in attack. The hope for the first win was still alive for the hosts. But after losing the second set, Grot Budowlani came back to the court stronger, fully motivated to prevail. They took 8-2 lead in the third set and never looked back, winning not only the third set by a big margin, but also the fourth part, earning an awaited victory. Masa Pucelj tallied a match-high 22 points, on Łódź's side, Mackenzie May was the top scorer with 16. But the MVP award was handed to libero Justyna Łysiak, who recorded 69% of positive receptions and helped her team wherever it was needed.

SC Potsdam - Fenerbahce Opet Istanbul 0-3 (18-25, 20-25, 19-25)

Later this evening, SC Potsdam and Fenerbahce Opet Istanbul electrified fans gathered at at MBS Arena Potsdam. Both teams recorded victories last week and were determined to stay unbeaten. However, from the beginning, it was obvious that star-studded Fenerbahce would not show mercy to their rivals. The Turkish club from the first whistle dominated on the court. Arina Fedorovtseva shone bright on the service line, serving three aces already in the opener, once Magdalena Stysiak was impressing in attack (5 points and 63% success), leading the team to a 25-18 set win. Although the team from Potsdam, with a solid performance from Suvi Kokkonen (5 points), fought hard  to keep the pace with Fenerbahce in the second set (losing 21-19 in the decisive moment), it was not enough to stop the Turkish giants, who in the third set added block as their additional weapon. Magdalena Stysiak hammered 7 points in the last set, including the match point, which she scored with her monster block. The Polish opposite, with 18 points to her name (16 kills, 57% success in attack and 2 blocks) was honoured with the MVP award. A match-high 23 points were scored by Fedorovtseva, who served 6 aces, while Kokkonen, with 11 points, was the best scorer of Potsdam.

Volley Mulhouse Alsace - Allianz Vero Volley Milano 0-3 (11-25, 12-25, 22-25)

In the last game of the day, in Pool A, Allianz Vero Volley Milano earned an away win over Volley Mulhouse Alsace. The game was a true block party as Milano recorded 12 killing stuffs - 5 by Kara Bajema and 3 by Nika Daalderop, once Mulhouse blocked their rivals 6 times. Paola Egonu scored a match-high 14 points (10 attacks, 2 aces, 2 blocks) and grabbed her second MVP award in this campaign.