#CLVolleyW group stage comes to a close with high-stake fixtures
Preview
What started back in late November is now coming together later this week with the very last round of action in the #CLVolleyW group stage. Even though some roles are already defined, there is still very much at stake including mouth-watering matchups that will decide the eventual leadership in Pools A, C, and E – and another chapter of the Italian-Turkish rivalry that has been entertaining Volleyball fans for a while now will unfold, with VakifBank taking on Club World champions SCANDICCI and Numia Vero Volley MILANO playing host to Eczacibasi Dynavit. Volleyball stars will be parading and will be asked to rise to the occasion to help their teams secure progression to the quarterfinals or at least a spot in the intermediate Playoff Round.
Pool A
VakifBank ISTANBUL (TUR) vs Savino Del Bene SCANDICCI (ITA)
Earlier this season, six-time #CLVolleyW winners VakifBank made amends for their heavy loss in last year’s semi-final as they beat SCANDICCI 3-1 in Florence, thereby conceding one of only two sets they have dropped along the way this far. However, it is still all to play for when it comes to the leadership in the pool, since SCANDICCI may take first place if they were to win 3-0 or 3-1 in Istanbul. It is no easy task for the side coached by Marco Gaspari, but as the recently crowned Club World champions, Savino Del Bene will travel to Istanbul aiming high, also relying on their 2-2 win-loss record in previous matches with VakifBank. Giovanni Guidetti’s team, on the other hand, will be propelled by their ability to stay undefeated this far in the group – and their away victory over SCANDICCI earlier this season ended a negative streak encompassing the previous three #CLVolleyW matches versus Italian opposition.
VakifBank captain Zehra Güneş has recorded 16 blocks in five matches, thereby averaging almost one block per set. Tijana Boskovic remains the team's top scorer with 90 points, followed by Marina Markova with 81. The hosts have an impressive record of 13 wins in the last 14 matches they have played in the group stage of the competition. They are also the team with the most wins overall – 177 – in the competition history.
VakifBank is one of the three teams to have defeated Savino Del Bene this season; the other two are A. Carraro Prosecco DOC CONEGLIANO and Honda CUNEO Granda Volley. Giuseppe Bosetti, father of Caterina and Lucia, respectively a current and a former player of Savino Del Bene, coached in VakifBank’s youth division from the 2017/2018 season until 2022. At this stage, Savino Del bene has a record of nine wins and seven losses in their matches with Turkish opposition.
Giovanni Guidetti, head coach of VakifBank: “We are very excited! It is nice to have the world champions in VakıfBank Spor Sarayı, and I am excited for our fans who will have the chance to see so many world and Olympic medallists all at once. In Scandicci, we played a good match, but they were dealing with some injuries. This time, I am sure it will be a totally different game and therefore we are expecting a real battle.”
Cansu Özbay, setter of VakifBank: “We are playing a very important match. We beat our opponents away, but this match, which will determine the group leader, will be more difficult. We have had a very intense week, but we have completed our preparations. We have been preparing for this match for a long time. I wish both teams success. I hope we win.”
CS Volei Alba BLAJ (ROU) vs Volero LE CANNET (FRA)
Volero LE CANNET and CS Volei Alba BLAJ occupy third and fourth place in the current standing of Pool A. To stay in front of their Romanian rivals, Volero will have to take at least two sets when they play each other for a second time this season, this time in Blaj. Back in early January, Volero claimed their sole victory this season so far when they beat Alba Volei 3-1 on home soil. There is a spot in the quarterfinals of the CEV Cup at stake – with the current head-to-heads reading in favour of Volero with four wins to three for Alba Volei, even though Volero has won the last three such matches in a row.
Pool B
Fenerbahçe Medicana ISTANBUL (TUR) vs PGE Budowlani ŁÓDŹ (POL)
With an immaculate record of five wins in as many matches this far, the Yellow Angels of Fenerbahçe have already secured first place in Pool B. However, they will be trying to further consolidate their grip and improve their record to have a more favourable path – at least on paper – to the Final Four. Earlier this season. Fenerbahçe travelled to Poland to claim an emphatic 3-0 victory powered by Melissa Vargas (17 points) and Hande Baladin (13). The Yellow Angels will enjoy the opportunity to improve their record in matches with PGE Budowlani to eight wins (the most against any opponent) – to this day, they have dropped only one set in their previous fixtures with the Polish team, all contested in the group stage of the competition. Budowlani, on the other hand, need to hold on to third place in the pool if they are to continue their European journey in the quarterfinals of the CEV Cup.
Igor Gorgonzola NOVARA (ITA) vs Sport LISBOA e Benfica (POR)
Even if they cannot overtake Fenerbahçe at the top of the group, Igor Gorgonzola will be highly motivated in this matchup to improve their record and try to secure a more favourable opponent in the Playoff Round. The wildcard holders and 2019 #CLVolleyW winners lost twice to Fenerbahçe this season, but were especially impressive in their close 2-3 defeat at the hands of the Yellow Angels. Earlier this season, when they played each other for the first time, NOVARA beat Benfica 3-0 in the Portuguese capital city, much courtesy of Tatiana Tolok, as their Russian opposite hitter scored 25 points in the process. Benfica are the clear underdogs, but they have improved with each match this season and will travel to Italy to put up a fight and try to prolong their journey in the European Cups – a feat they would achieve if they were to overtake PGE Budowlani for third place in the final standing of the pool.
It is the first time ever a Portuguese team plays in Novara for an international game. Over 1,500 spectators are expected to attend the match.
Giulia De Nardi, libero of Igor Gorgonzola NOVARA: “We come into this match after two consecutive wins following the disappointment for being defeated in the Italian Cup semifinals. We have a positive feeling and we are confident about our chances. We are aware that the match and the points at stake are important for the next steps in our European journey, but moreover we want to deliver a strong performance. Benfica will enter the court ready to put us under pressure, but I am confident that with our style of play and the support of the home crowd we can keep this positive run going.”
Pool C
Numia Vero Volley MILANO (ITA) vs Eczacibasi Dynavit ISTANBUL (TUR)
With first place in the pool and direct progression to the quarterfinals at stake, this fixture is certainly among the ‘big matches’ of the week. Earlier this season, Eczacibasi emerged victorious at home (3-2) but they are still chasing MILANO in the group following their rather surprising loss at the hands of Olympiacos in Greece. Still, with their 3-2 home win, Eczacibasi could break their negative streak in matches with Vero Volley – as they had lost both at home and away in last season’s quarterfinals. Following the matchup contested earlier this year, Eczacibasi improved their win-loss record with Italian teams to 14-27, whereas MILANO dropped to seven wins and as many losses in matchups with Turkish opposition. That loss also ended a positive streak of four wins in a row for Vero Volley in matches with Turkish clubs. With the home-court advantage on their side, Paola Egonu and her teammates will be trying to secure a much-needed victory to skip the Playoff Round and advance directly to the quarterfinals. However, this is a goal that is shared also by Eczacibasi and their Italian-born head coach Giulio Bregoli. Watch out for a battle that will most likely go down to the wire!
Stefano Lavarini, head coach of Numia Vero Volley MILANO: “The match against Eczacibasi will be decisive in determining the top two places in the group and the resulting matchups in the next round. In order to improve on our performance from the previous leg, we will need to increase the effectiveness of our serve to limit their fast play, particularly with the middle players. It will also be crucial to attack with courage and choose the right shots, as we did at various points in the away match against a very physical team like theirs.”
Hena Kurtagić, middle blocker of Numia Vero Volley MILANO: “Tomorrow’s match will be the most important one in the pool. I am happy to be playing in Milan in front of our fans, whose support will be crucial. The goal is to be patient and solid in our play, and by doing so, I believe we will achieve the desired result.”
OK Železničar LAJKOVAC (SRB) vs Olympiacos PIRAEUS (GRE)
The rookies from Serbia will be saying goodbye to the #CLVolleyW as well as to the European Cups for this season with a home match against another side making their very first appearance in the group stage of the competition, Olympiacos. As things currently stand, Olympiacos are still in full contention for a spot in the Playoff Round. Therefore, this matchup is highly important for the side coached by Branko Kovacevic, who plays the team he did himself coach from the 2020/2021 season up until 2023/2024. In their previous clash in early January, Olympiacos secured a 3-1 home win propelled by the 24 points scored by Milica Kubura. It remains to be seen whether the Greek champions will be able to count on their star middle blocker Jovana Stevanovic, who last week missed the home match with MILANO due to injury.
OK Železničar enters the match with great respect for the opponent, but also with strong belief in its own potential. Following a period of preparation and valuable experience from the first encounter with Olympiacos, the Serbian team is ready to step onto the court motivated, united, and determined to fight for every point in front of its own supporters.
Ratko Pavlicevic, head coach of OK Železničar LAJKOVAC: “We have great respect for Olympiacos, especially because across the net are our great friends, including head coach Branko Kovacevic and his assistant Lazar Tabakovic, as well as our outstanding players Jovana Stevanovic and Milica Kubura. However, our expectations for this game are, as always, positive. No matter how strong the opponent is, we will not give up and will fight until the end, with great belief in our game and in ourselves.”
Ana-Marija Jonjev, setter of OK Železničar LAJKOVAC: “We are aware of the quality of Olympiacos, but we are entering the match highly motivated. We prepared well, and I believe in the team and the energy we bring onto the court. If we stay focused and stick to the game plan, we have every reason to be optimistic. We will give our maximum to show character and fight for every single point. In the first match, we managed to win one set, and with the support of our fans, who mean a lot to us, I believe we can also fight for a victory. The key will be concentration and team energy throughout the entire match.”
Pool D
A. Carraro Prosecco DOC CONEGLIANO (ITA) vs. ŁKS Commercecon ŁÓDŹ (POL)
The Panthers recently crowned themselves Italian Cup winners for the eighth time and shortly afterwards travelled to Ankara where they routed Zeren Spor Kulübü to secure first place in the pool with one round to go. Their third and final home match in Pool D may look like a formality, but CONEGLIANO will be trying to further improve their record to secure a better ‘draw’ for the quarterfinals. After a less successful start to the season than usual, Santarelli’s team is back on track and are aiming for an unprecedented third title in a row, something that has not happened since the #CLVolleyW was introduced some 25 years ago. The ‘Panthers’ have an immaculate 3-0 win-loss record in matches with ŁKS Commercecon ŁÓDŹ – without losing a single set – whereas their opponents have a 0-9 record in fixtures versus Italian opposition, so the roles are pretty clear going into this matchup.
CONEGLIANO have won their last 27 CEV Champions League matches in a row, thereby marking the longest winning streak in the club’s history in this competition. The Polish team, on the other hand, conclude their European campaign at the Palaverde and are seeking their first points in the pool.
Daniele Santarelli, head coach of CONEGLIANO: “We want to close out the group stage with a win and a strong performance that gives continuity to our current good form. The goal is to finish the group with the best possible points tally and set ratio; then we will see what happens on the other courts to define all the scenarios, but we will think about that only at the end. There will be many exciting clashes on the final match day of the group stage in this competition, which more than ever this season feels wide open to every possible outcome. From the quarterfinals onward, the level of Volleyball will obviously be extremely high, and we want to get there with a convincing performance in front of our home crowd. We have recovered Serena Scognamillo and Matilde Munarini, who had been dealing with fever, and they are back training with the group. I will continue to rotate all the players between tomorrow’s match and the next four league rounds leading up to the playoffs. As a staff, we intend to give everyone opportunities and rhythm ahead of the decisive phase of the season. We want to raise the overall level of our performance: knockout matches are coming, and we want to reach them in the best possible shape. We are happy to be back at the Palaverde after Sunday’s sell-out against Macerata. The Champions League is a special competition, and playing it at home always has a special feeling with it.”
Adrian Chyliński, head coach of ŁKS Commercecon ŁÓDŹ: “It is a great pleasure for us to play against an opponent of such a high level in Italy, in a very nice atmosphere in the stands. In the match in Łódź we were close to winning a set and we put up a fight. I hope that we will fight as hard as we can, play a good match, and that this game will be a good driving force for the team ahead of the upcoming matches in the Polish league.”
DRESDNER SC (GER) vs. ANKARA Zeren Spor Kulübü (TUR)
With wildcard holders Zeren already sure of second place in the pool, the stakes are especially high for DRESDNER SC as they are still in contention for a spot in the Playoff Round. Earlier this season, Anna Lazareva and Aleksandra Uzelac helped ANKARA secure a 3-0 victory on home soil. This result worsened the record of DRESDNER SC in matches with Turkish teams to 1-12, but the Germans will have an opportunity to redeem themselves in front of their home crowd, hoping to repeat their sensational victory over Fenerbahçe from the Playoffs 12 of the 2014/2015 season.
ANKARA’s Saliha Şahin and Kübra Akman have not travelled to Dresden due to their injuries. Youth team player Özge Karakaş has been added to the squad instead.
Alexander Waibl, head coach of DRESDNER SC: “Of course, they have a very experienced team with a lot of physical strength, but we played a very good first set in Ankara. And that's what we want to build on. Let's see how well we can tackle them here. Basically, the group standings are clear, but the points still matter to us.”
Patricia Nestler, captain and libero of DRESDNER SC: “For us, the Champions League is always a great opportunity to play at a very, very high level. These are the matches that help us grow. They clearly show us what we need to work on. We had a great first set in Ankara. And I am very excited to see what we can achieve on Wednesday and how much we will ‘annoy’ them.”
Stevan Ljubicic, head coach of ANKARA Zeren Spor Kulübü: "We came to Dresden with high ambition and a clear mindset. Our goal is to win the game and get through this match without losing any sets. For now, our only focus is to leave the court with a victory. After the match, we will look at the other results and see the path forward for our team and our next opponent. We are ready to compete and give our best on the court.”
Pool E
KS Developres RZESZÓW (POL) vs. SSC Palmberg SCHWERIN (GER)
The battle between these two teams will decide which side ends up in first place and progresses straight to the quarterfinals – and which one will have to go through the Playoff Round of the competition. Earlier this season, KS Developres emerged victorious from an incredibly tight match (15-12 at the tiebreak), with Julita Piasecka scoring as many as 28 points. If that previous match is anything to go by, the fans in Rzeszow are likely to experience much of the same on Wednesday late afternoon. With their victory away from home, KS Developres slightly improved their record in #CLVolleyW group phase matches with SCHWERIN to 1-2 and when playing at home, they will also try to capitalise on their 6-2 favourable overall record in matches with German opposition. On the other hand, SSC Palmberg SCHWERIN have a 3-4 win-loss record against Polish clubs in the Champions League. Therefore, even historical data let us expect an incredibly exciting and close battle, even more so with that much at stake!
Felix Koslowski, head coach of SSC Palmberg SCHWERIN: “KS Developres is and remains the clear top favourite in our pool. We know it will be a huge challenge, but we saw in the home match that we also have our chances even against such an experienced team. We want to leave everything on the court to keep our small opportunity alive, and if a door opens, we will try to seize it.”
Marije ten Brinke, middle blocker of SSC Palmberg SCHWERIN: “So far, we have done really well in the Champignons League. Now, in our last match, we have the chance to fight for first place in our pool, and we are going to give it our all. RZESZÓW is a strong team with many experienced players, and in our home game, we played a close match. We will do everything we can to achieve a great result!”
LEVALLOIS PARIS Saint Cloud (FRA) vs. Maritza PLOVDIV (BUL)
Les Mariannes still have a chance to move to the Playoff Round of the #CLVolleyW depending on the results of the matches in other pools, whereas Maritza could overtake their opponents in third place and thus continue their journey in the CEV Cup quarterfinals should they win in Paris. In early January, Maritza beat LEVALLOIS 3-1 at home to secure their only victory in the group this far. That was the very first match for LEVALLOIS PARIS Saint Cloud against Bulgarian opposition in their #CLVolleyW history. On the other hand, courtesy of that result, Maritza PLOVDIV improved their record in the Champions League against French clubs to 3-6.
Ahmetcan Ersimsek, head coach of Maritza: “After our last Champions League game, we tried to focus on our mistakes and fix them. I believe we are ready for the match tomorrow. Everybody knows how important this match is, so no extra motivation is needed. Without a doubt, it will be a really hard match. They won two games at home against good teams, but I believe we are strong enough to beat them. The most important thing is how we will behave on the court - with fire, with mutual support, giving our all...”
Lora Slavcheva, setter of Maritza PLOVDIV: “We are in a very positive mood. I hope the victory we achieved in Plovdiv will give us enough self-confidence to come out and fight on the court. I expect a tough match, but I hope my feeling that we are going to win turns out right.”
Alessandro Orefice, head coach of LEVALLOIS PARIS Saint Cloud: “Maritza has great, talented young players like the opposite Iva Dudova and some experienced players of a really good level, and they are really strong with their block and defence. In the first match played in Bulgaria we could not find our rhythm and any solutions to stop their attack – as I said to my team, we took a good punch, but we did not fall to the ground. Now we play much better Volleyball, more consistent, we have more solutions and our team spirit has grown a lot. We play in Paris, in front of our great supporters, in our home – and that is why I expect to see a solid team, enjoying the match and ready to fight to take our third revenge in this last month.”
Tessa Polder, middle blocker of LEVALLOIS PARIS Saint Cloud: “We are all really excited to play, we want to extend our winning streak in our home fixtures in the CEV Champions League, so that we can continue our European adventure in the CEV Cup.”