CONEGLIANO and Zeren to deliver most anticipated #CLVolleyW Leg 5 matchup

The #CLVolleyW Round 4 is quickly reaching its pinnacle, with the fifth leg coming up this week and key matches to define the final standings in each pool, with direct promotion to the quarterfinals at stake. The real, albeit unofficial ‘Match of the Week’ is scheduled for Tuesday in Ankara, where titleholders CONEGLIANO will be playing Zeren Spor Kulübü in an eagerly anticipated fixture – even more so following the dramatic season opener back in late November when the ‘Panthers’ needed a long tiebreak to eventually edge the wildcard holders from Türkiye’s capital city in Pool D. 

Pool A 

Volero LE CANNET (FRA) vs. VakifBank ISTANBUL (TUR) 

Volero are playing host to Pool A leaders VakifBank, with the six-time #CLVolleyW winners currently at the top of the table in the group with a perfect record of four wins in as many matches and maximum 12 points. Volero, on the other hand, have claimed their sole victory of the season in their home matchup with Romania’s CS Volei Alba BLAJ. Earlier this season, as Round 4 got underway, VakifBank marched to a 3-0 home victory over Volero, thereby improving their record with French teams to 18-7, and further prolonging a winning streak encompassing now 10 matches in a row – without conceding a single set. Volero obviously have a mountain to climb as they host such a star-studded side – and Giovanni Guidetti will be trying to cement his team’s leadership in the pool ahead of the final showdown with Savino Del Bene SCANDICCI in early February. 

CS Volei Alba BLAJ (ROU) vs. Savino Del Bene SCANDICCI (ITA) 

Earlier this season, Savino Del Bene SCANDICCI got their campaign underway with an emphatic 3-0 home victory over the Romanian champions. Since that fixture, they have crowned themselves FIVB Club World champions, thereby asserting their status as a major force to reckon with on the international stage. With their 3-0 win from the first leg, SCANDICCI made sure they boast an impeccable record in their matchups with BLAJ – as they had previously beaten the Romanian side in the two-legged final of the CEV Cup in 2023 (3-1 away and 3-0 at home). Ekaterina Antropova and her colleagues travel to Romania shortly after the national cup Final Four contested this past weekend in Turin – where they lost to CONEGLIANO in the final – and they will be aiming for further success to remain in contention for first place in the group ahead of the final round of action against VakifBank. 

By making it to the final of the Italian Cup this past weekend, SCANDICCI have joined an elite group of clubs which have contested the last stage of all club competitions – domestically and internationally as well. The only missing piece from this collection is a spot in the final of the annual Italian Super Cup. 

In the history of Savino Del Bene Volley, there has been only one Romanian player on their roster: Daiana Giorgiana Mureșan, an outside hitter born in 1990, who played for the Scandicci side in the 2014-2015 season (the club’s first campaign in Serie A1). In its history, Savino Del Bene has played five matches against Romanian teams (two against C.S.O. VOLUNTARI 2005 on top of the aforementioned three against BLAJ); the overall record stands at five victories, with 15 sets won and only one lost. 
The matchup against Alba BLAJ will be the 34th game played in 114 days for Savino Del Bene; since the start of the season, coach Marco Gaspari’s team has played one match every 3.35 days.

The head coach of Savino Del Bene was recently struck by the death of his father, Luciano, mid of last week. Luciano Gaspari was a renowned referee who dedicated more than fifty years to Volleyball, beginning his refereeing career in 1969 and becoming a Serie A referee in 1977. An international official for twenty-one years, he officiated twenty league finals and reached the pinnacle of his career by taking part in the Athens 2004 Olympic Games. In 2015, he became President of the European Refereeing Commission (ERC), before assuming its honorary presidency in 2020, and in 2019 he became the first referee to be inducted into the Italian Volleyball Hall of Fame.

Pool B 

Sport LISBOA e Benfica (POR) vs. Fenerbahçe Medicana ISTANBUL (TUR) 

Rookies Sport LISBOA e Benfica have been enjoying their maiden appearance in the pool stage of the #CLVolleyW this far – a campaign including also a truly historic win over PGE Budowlani ŁÓDŹ. The Yellow Angels of Fenerbahçe, on the other hand, are the undisputed leaders of the pool with four wins in as many matches, but most recently they had to fight hard to edge Igor Gorgonzola NOVARA at the tiebreak. The ‘Eagles’ from Portugal’s capital city are the obvious underdogs and they lost 0-3 to Fenerbahçe earlier this season. However, as the competition has shown this far, there is no room for error and Eda Erdem & Co. will have to remain focussed as every point counts for first place in the pool. The matchup will be somehow special for the Turkish outside hitter of Benfica, Cansu Cetin, who spent many years at Fenerbahçe earlier in her career. 

Igor Gorgonzola NOVARA (ITA) vs. PGE Budowlani ŁÓDŹ (POL) 

Straight from the Final Four of the Italian National Cup, where they lost to arch-rivals CONEGLIANO in the semis, NOVARA approach this home matchup with good feelings from their latest performances, especially in their drama-filled 2-3 loss at the hands of Fenerbahçe earlier this month. If they wish to stay in contention for first place in the pool, the players coached by Lorenzo Bernardi will have to repeat or even improve on their 3-1 victory from earlier this season in Poland. With that result, they had moved their win-loss record in matches with PGE Budowlani to an immaculate 3-0 even though they conceded their first set. PGE Budowlani are still searching for their first victory against Italian opposition, whereas NOVARA’s record in matches with Polish teams in the #CLVolleyW currently stands at seven wins and two losses – including seven wins in a row. 

Pool C 

Olympiacos PIRAEUS (GRE) vs. Numia Vero Volley MILANO (ITA) 

Pool leaders Numia Vero Volley MILANO travel to Greece well-rested as they did not contest the Final Four of the Italian national cup this past weekend – for which they had surprisingly failed to qualify. Even though they recently lost 2-3 to Eczacibasi, Paola Egonu & Co. are still the group leaders. Olympiacos, on the other hand, have been enjoying their maiden appearance in the pool stage of the competition with two wins to their name so far. However, earlier this season they lost 0-3 to MILANO in Italy in what was their first-ever clash in the CEV European Cups. Numia Vero Volley will be trying to further improve the positive record of Italian teams against Greek opposition in the #CLVolleyW which currently stands at three wins and no losses. MILANO will require to take as many points as possible from this matchup if they are to continue their battle with Eczacibasi for the top spot in the pool and direct promotion to the quarterfinals. 

OK Železničar LAJKOVAC (SRB) vs. Eczacibasi Dynavit ISTANBUL (TUR) 

Eczacibasi Dynavit ISTANBUL and rookies OK Železničar LAJKOVAC play each other for the second time after earlier this season the Turkish ‘Tigers’ stormed to a comprehensive 3-0 home victory. These two teams had previously crossed their paths in the 16th Finals of the CEV Cup back in the 2021/2022 season. Eczacibasi did not concede a single set in those matches and eventually lifted the trophy. After their surprising loss at the hands of Olympiacos, Eczacibasi need to stay as ‘clean’ as possible if they are to fight for first place in the group. So far, they have a perfect 5-0 win-loss record with Serbian teams in the #CLVolleyW, with only one set lost along the way. 

Pool D 

ANKARA Zeren Spor Kulübü (TUR) vs. A. Carraro Prosecco DOC CONEGLIANO (ITA) 

This is to be regarded as the unofficial ‘Match of the Week’ especially after earlier this season rookies and wildcard holders ANKARA Zeren Spor Kulübü sensationally took the two-time defending champions to the tiebreak before the ‘Panthers’ emerged victorious there. CONEGLIANO travel to Türkiye following their success in the Final Four of the Italian national cup for a high-stake match that is likely to define which team will finish the pool stage in first place and skip the Playoff round. In Ankara, CONEGLIANO will be trying to extend their record of six straight wins against Turkish opposition in the #CLVolleyW – and they boast six wins from their seven group phase matches with Turkish teams, with their only loss dating to December 2013. 

Daniele Santarelli, head coach of CONEGLIANO: “Sunday in Turin was an extraordinary day that brought us a wonderful victory in Italian Cup against a top team like SCANDICCI, which we really needed. I am happy for the girls, the fans, and the club’s management. I know how much they suffered and worked together to get back to winning ways this season, but now there is no time to celebrate or rest. We need to turn the page and start again. We have to be good at resetting everything because we have a crucial game in the CEV Champions League, and that has to be our immediate focus. Tomorrow in Ankara, we will play a very difficult game against a top team that is having an excellent season in Türkiye and that gave us a hard time at the Palaverde in the first leg. Zeren is well trained and has very strong attackers. We know the risks of this away game, especially after such an intense weekend in Turin. We have made similar mistakes in the past, but I have a strong, experienced, and mature team. This back-to-back between Turin and Ankara is challenging and stressful, but it does not scare us. The team will be ready for another big match in this tough month of January.” 

DRESDNER SC (GER) vs. ŁKS Commercecon ŁÓDŹ (POL) 

This matchup is highly important as both teams vie for third place in the pool and with it they would prolong their European journey in the quarterfinals of the CEV Cup. While ŁKS Commercecon ŁÓDŹ defeated DRESDNER SC 3-0 in a friendly in September 2023, earlier this season the Germans claimed a 3-1 away victory, thereby improving their record against Polish teams in the Champions League to three wins and four losses. On the other hand, ŁKS Commercecon ŁÓDŹ have dropped to a W2-L5 record against German opposition in the competition. 

Pool E

Maritza PLOVDIV (BUL) vs. KS Developres RZESZÓW (POL) 

KS Developres RZESZÓW has a perfect record in Round 4 matches with Maritza. The Polish champions faced Maritza last year, winning 3-1 at home and 3-0 the away fixture in Plovdiv. KS Developres RZESZÓW defeated Maritza PLOVDIV 3-0 in a pre-season friendly tournament in Ankara back in September and started their #CLVolleyW journey this season with a 3-1 home win over the team from Bulgaria. Playing at home, Maritza PLOVDIV will be trying to end their negative streak as they have lost all nine Champions League matches against Polish opposition this far. KS Developres will aim for maximum points – they need a clean performance if they are to continue to fight for first place with SCHWERIN following their surprising loss at the hands of LEVALLOIS PARIS Saint Cloud back in December. 

Ahmetcan Ersimsek, head coach of Maritza PLOVDIV: “We are mentally ready. We know how to play such matches and we like playing in the Champions League. I am happy with how we have been playing in the Champions League, except for our last match. Every game at this level is a very good experience for us. Our game is developing, which makes me happy. I hope that we will be able to make it difficult for Developres. They are undoubtedly the strongest team in our pool. It will be a tough match, but I believe in our team and I am sure we will put up a fight.”

Kaya Nikolova, middle blocker of Maritza: “The girls are very motivated for the match. Each of us is trying to train in the best possible way, to follow the instructions, and give 100%. The home crowd always gives us an additional push.”

LEVALLOIS PARIS Saint Cloud (FRA) vs. SSC Palmberg SCHWERIN (GER) 

This is a highly important match – with SCHWERIN fully in contention for first place in the pool after completion of four rounds and LEVALLOIS fighting with Maritza for third place and a spot in the quarterfinals of the CEV Cup. Earlier this season, SCHWERIN claimed a 3-1 home victory thereby celebrating a third victory in as many #CLVolleyW group phase matches with the reigning French national champions (they had won 3-0 and 3-2 last year). These victories are the only ones for SSC Palmberg SCHWERIN against French clubs in the Champions League. As SCHWERINER SC they had lost all four matches versus RC CANNES, all in straight sets in the group phase in 2011/2012 and 2013/2014. Felix Koslowski will be aiming to keep the sheet clean to cement their quest for first place – which would then be at stake in the final round of action against KS Developres. 

Florien Reesink, libero of SSC Palmberg SCHWERIN: “The game against PARIS will be really important for us. It is a strong team – so from the first moment we will have to play with high intensity. We will give everything and fight for every point to get a good result, to cement our position in the pool and keep going in the Champions League.” 

Felix Koslowski, head coach of SSC Palmberg SCHWERIN: “We are facing a very important Champions League match in Paris. The win against Maritza gave us a good starting position, but we also know that every match counts in this group. LEVALLOIS have already shown what they are capable of at home and have recently stabilised their performances in the French league. We need to play with a high level of focus and put them under pressure from the very first point. If we can carry the momentum from our previous European matches into this game, we have a good chance of taking something valuable back from Paris.”