Eczacıbaşı, Conegliano and Schwerin seal exciting week with straight-set wins

Eczacıbaşı Dynavit ISTANBUL defeated Olympiacos PIRAEUS, A. Carraro Prosecco DOC CONEGLIANO swept past Dresdner SC , while SSC Palmberg SCHWERIN recorded a convincing victory over Maritza PLOVDIV. Conegliano secured their fourth consecutive win to remain top of Pool D, while Eczacıbaşı and Schwerin celebrated their third victories in Pools C and E respectively. Another thrilling week - week four - of the competition has come to a close, with the favourites taking a significant step closer to the knockout phase.

Pool C - Eczacibasi Dynavit ISTANBUL (TUR) vs Olympiacos PIRAEUS (GRE) 3–0 (25–18, 25–15, 25–19)

Eczacibasi Dynavit ISTANBUL avenged their five-set defeat suffered in early December by sweeping Olympiacos PIRAEUS at home in straight sets.

Early errors by the Olympiacos players allowed Eczacibasi to take a 5–1 lead, supported by strong blocking and solid defensive play. The Greek champions narrowed the gap to 6–4, but Eczacibasi quickly regained control, moving ahead 9–5 and then 13–6. Later in the set, Olympiacos, with Milica Kubura serving, cut the deficit to 18–14, only for the hosts to respond and extend the lead to 20–14. After another brief comeback by Olympiacos (20–16), Eczacibasi answered with three consecutive points for 23–16 and closed the set at 25–18.
Eczacibasi recorded five blocks in the opening set, compared to just one by Olympiacos. Ebrar Karakurt led the home side, while Kenia Carcaces paced the visitors, with both scoring seven points and posting an identical 78% attack efficiency.

The second set again belonged to Eczacibasi, who led 3–1, 9–4 and 14–7. Olympiacos reduced the margin to 14–10, but the Turkish side soon reasserted control, opening up a 19–11 advantage. Eczacibasi claimed the set 25–15 to move ahead 2–0.
Magdalena Stysiak was the most productive player in the second set with eight points (2 aces, 1 block, 63% attack). She was well supported by Sinead Jack-Kisal (2 blocks, 67% attack) and Ebrar Karakurt, who added four points each. For Olympiacos, Kenia Carcaces, Milica Kubura and Jovana Stevanović scored two points apiece.

Eczacibasi started the third set in emphatic fashion, racing to a 6–0 lead. Olympiacos responded to make it 10–6, but the hosts quickly pulled away again at 14–8 and 16–9. The lead later stood at 18–11 and 22–17 before Eczacibasi sealed the set 25–19 and the match with a convincing 3–0 victory.

Magdalena Stysiak, Eczacibasi’s opposite hitter, was named Most Valuable Player (MVP). She finished with 14 points (3 aces, 1 block, 50% attack efficiency), while Karakurt was the top scorer for the hosts with 16 points (78% positive reception, 53% attack). For Olympiacos, Kenia Carcaces led the way with 12 points (41% attack).

POOL D - A. Carraro Prosecco DOC CONEGLIANO (ITA) vs DRESDNER SC (GER) 3-0 (25-19, 25-23, 25-19)

A. Carraro Prosecco DOC Imoco Conegliano extended their extraordinary winning streak in the CEV Champions League to 26 consecutive matches, completing a composed 3–0 (25-19, 25-23, 25-19) victory over DRESDNER SC on Thursday evening at the Palaverde.

Despite several rotations in the starting line-up, the Italian champions once again showed their depth and control. Middle blocker Marina Lubian was sidelined through injury, while regular starters Gabi, Zhu Ting and captain Joanna Wołosz began the match on the bench. Even so, Conegliano managed the contest with maturity, relying on their structure and experience to stay in command at key moments.

The opening set was finely balanced in its early stages, with Dresdner matching Conegliano point for point. The hosts gradually pulled clear midway through the set, using solid work at the net and efficient transition play to create separation. Isabelle Haak led the charge with eight points in the first set, helping Conegliano close it out 25-19.

Dresdner SC raised their level in the second set and pushed the reigning champions to the limit. The German side briefly took control at 18-19 and again at 20-22, driven by an impressive offensive display from Marta Kamēlija Levinska, who scored eight points in the set. Conegliano, however, responded with composure. A crucial defensive play from libero Monica De Gennaro sparked a decisive late run, and the Italian side finished the set with a 5–0 break to seal it 25-23, with Haak and Fatoumatta Sillah contributing six points apiece.

With confidence growing, Conegliano imposed themselves fully in the third set. Supported by 3,930 spectators at the Palaverde, the “Italian Panthers” controlled the tempo and gradually built a clear advantage, closing the match 25-19 to secure their fourth win in four matches in Pool D.

Isabelle Haak was named MVP after another influential performance, finishing with 19 points and providing leadership in the decisive phases. Reflecting on the win, the Swedish opposite underlined the importance of consistency: “Three important points. I don’t think we played exactly at the level we wanted, but in the important moments we were there. We’ll keep working.”

The result keeps A. Carraro Prosecco DOC Imoco Conegliano firmly on course in the group stage, maintaining their perfect record and underlining once again why they remain the benchmark in the CEV Champions League. Dresdner SC, despite a spirited display and strong resistance in the second set, were ultimately unable to convert their chances against one of Europe’s most accomplished sides.

Pool E - SSC Palmberg SCHWERIN (GER) vs. Maritza PLOVDIV (BUL) 3-0 (25-20, 25-21, 25-17)

Germany’s SSC Palmberg Schwerin swept their home game against Bulgaria’s Maritza Plovdiv on Thursday evening, celebrating a convincing 3-0 (25-20, 25-21, 25-17) victory at the Palmberg Arena and rising to the top of the Pool E standings in the women’s Champions League on a 3-1 win-loss record, 9 points and a better set ratio than Poland’s Developres Rzeszow. Maritza are in third place on 1-3 and 4 points. 

The match was additionally spiced up by the coaching duel between Palmerg’s Felix Koslowski and Maritza’s Ahmetcan Ersimsek, who will be working together as head and assistant at the helm of the Dutch national team this coming summer.

With seven points in a row on outside hitter Annegret Hölzig’s turn to serve, Palmberg opened up a 12-4 gap early into the first set. Maritza tried fighting back and managed to come back to within three a couple of times, but the home team was more efficient in attack, spearheaded by outside Leana Grozer. Finally, it was Dutch middle blocker Marije ten Brinke’s kill block that closed the set at 25-20.

Maritza stormed the second set on a 6-2 run, but Palmberg managed to catch up at 11-11. The fierce battle on the court continued, decorated by spectacular long rallies and frequent changes in the lead, with the Bulgarian team shining on the block led by middle Borislava Saykova, and the German side merciless from the serving line, with two aces from Grozer. After 21-20 Maritza’s way, however, Palmberg sprinted to the finish line with five points in a row. Two consecutive aces by Ten Brinke brought in set point, converted by Dutch sub-in Iris Vos with an overpass kill for 25-21.

Maritza once again started better in the third set, breaking away with 4-0 and 7-2 leads, but only to let the home team level up again at 10-10. A fantastic Grozer continued to create a lot of problems for the Bulgarian team, especially from the serving line, and helped put Palmberg at a 19-13 advantage. And there was no turning back. The German team cruised on to a comfortable close, with Hölzig bringing in match point and Dutch middle Britte Stuut shaping up the final 25-17 with a block-out kill.

Leana Grozer was honored with a well-deserved Most Valuable Player (MVP) award. She was the best scorer of the match with 22 points, including an impressive six serving aces. The two opposites – Palmberg’s Mia Kirchhoff and Maritza’s Iva Dudova – scored 14 points each.