Knack survive a five-set clash with Halkbank, Ziraat disappoint Trentino
Recap
Another thrilling night of CEV Champions League Volley is underway, with five matches being played across the continent this evening.
Pool A - Ziraat Bankkart ANKARA (TUR) vs TRENTINO Itas (ITA) 2-3 (18-25, 25-21, 26-24, 15-25, 12-15)
Knack ROESELARE claimed a hard-fought 3–2 away victory over Halkbank ANKARA in Round 4 of Pool B of the CEV Champions League Volley 2026, prevailing after a tense 130-minute battle at the TVF Ziraat Bankkart Volleyball Hall.
The Belgian champions made a strong start, setting the tone in the opening set by building a six-point cushion and maintaining control to take it 25–18. Halkbank responded well in the second set, raising their level in block and defence. Regaining momentum during Matey Kaziyski’s service run, the Turkish side closed the set 25–21 to level the match.
Halkbank carried that momentum into the third set, quickly extending their lead to five points. Knack attempted a late comeback during Seppe Van Hoyweghen’s service turn, but were unable to overturn the deficit. In a fiercely contested finish, Tsvetan Sokolov sealed the set with an ace, handing Halkbank a 26–24 win and a 2–1 lead.
Roeselare answered decisively in the fourth set, dominating from the outset and limiting Halkbank’s attacking options to restore parity with a convincing 25–15 win. The tie-break followed a similar pattern early on, remaining close before the visitors pulled clear in the final exchanges. Strong attacking efficiency from Basil Dermaux proved decisive as Knack closed the set 15–12 to complete the comeback.
Dermaux was named MVP after an outstanding performance, finishing as the match’s top scorer with 39 points. Tsvetan Sokolov led Halkbank with 24 points, while Yoandy Leal Hidalgo added 13. Despite Halkbank recording more kill blocks (14–13) and matching Roeselare in aces (7–7), the Belgian side’s superior attacking output (71 winning spikes to 44) ultimately made the difference.
Around 1,500 Halkbank supporters filled the stands in Ankara, with a small group of travelling Roeselare fans also present, as Pool B remains wide open heading into the decisive phase of the group stage.
Pool B - Halkbank ANKARA (TUR) vs Knack ROESELARE (BEL) 3-0 (25-15, 33-31, 25-22)
Ziraat Bankkart Ankara produced a stunning performance to defeat Trentino Itas in straight sets in the clash of two unbeaten teams from Pool A, becoming the first Turkish club to beat the Italian powerhouse in the CEV Champions League after nine consecutive victories by Italian teams over Turkish opposition.
In front of a fantastic crowd in Ankara, both teams delivered high-level Volleyball, but the hosts, led by Murat Yenipazar, were more consistent and versatile throughout the match.
Ziraat made a strong start, taking an early 4-1 lead behind Tomasz Fornal’s serve, before Alessandro Michieletto responded for Trentino (5-4). The Turkish side quickly regained control, pulling away to 9-5, which forced Trentino head coach Marcelo Mendez to call a timeout. Although Theo Faure briefly halted the momentum, Ziraat continued to dominate, stretching the lead to 14-9 and then 18-10, much to the delight of the home fans. The set was comfortably closed out at 25-15 for a 1-0 lead.
In the opening set, Nimir Abdel-Aziz scored six points (1 ace, 1 block, 4/4 in attack), while Michieletto led Trentino with four points. Ziraat posted an impressive 63% positive reception, compared to just 30% for the visitors, and also outperformed Trentino in both blocks and aces.
The second set followed a similar pattern, although it developed into a real battle. After an even start, Trentino briefly took control with a 9-5 lead, but Ziraat responded through strong serving from Yenipazar and Fornal. The teams traded points in a tense rally-filled exchange, with neither side able to gain a decisive advantage. Trentino had several set points, but failed to convert them, while Nimir’s powerful serving proved decisive in the closing stages. Ziraat eventually claimed the marathon set 33-31 to move ahead 2-0.
Nimir Abdel-Aziz dominated the second set with 12 points (1 ace, 1 block, 71% attack efficiency), while Fornal and Trevor Clevenot added six and five points respectively. On the other side, Michieletto scored seven points for Trentino.
The third set opened with another strong spell from Nimir, although Trentino briefly took the lead. The teams exchanged advantages until the final phase, when Ziraat raised the level once again. A series of strong serves by Clevenot brought match points, and the French outside hitter sealed the victory at 25-22, completing a convincing 3-0 win.
Nimir Abdel-Aziz was named MVP of the match after scoring 21 points (2 aces, 2 blocks, 63% attack). Trevor Clevenot added 13 points, while Tomasz Fornal contributed 12. For Trentino, Alessandro Michieletto finished as the top scorer with 12 points, followed by Jordi Ramon Feragut with 11 and Theo Faure with 10.
Nimir Abdel-Aziz“It was a great win against one of the best teams in the world. We played excellent volleyball and that is very encouraging. We are first in the standings with two rounds to go, but that doesn’t mean much yet. We have to stay focused and keep winning.”
Player of Ziraat Bankkart ANKARA