Scandicci, Conegliano and Eczacibasi take first-step wins in quarterfinals shake-up
News
Wednesday night’s CEV Champions League Volley 2026 quarterfinals delivered thrilling action across Europe, with all three first-leg matches producing decisive results. Eczacibasi Dynavit ISTANBUL overcame a first-set setback to defeat KS Developres RZESZÓW 3-1 at home, thanks to standout performances from Magdalena Stysiak, Ebrar Karakurt, and MVP Sinead Jack-Kisal, giving the Turkish side the upper hand ahead of the return leg in Poland. Meanwhile, defending champions A. Carraro Prosecco DOC CONEGLIANO dominated ANKARA Zeren Spor Kulübü 3-0 in Ankara, securing a record-breaking 29th consecutive Champions League win with balanced attacking contributions from Isabelle Haak, Zhu Ting, and Fatoumatta Sillah. Finally, Savino Del Bene SCANDICCI secured a hard-fought 3-0 victory over Fenerbahçe Medicana ISTANBUL in Florence, with Ekaterina Antropova leading the way and Caterina Bosetti earning MVP honours after a dramatic second set that extended to 31-29. All three victorious sides now hold the advantage as the race to the Final Four intensifies.
Eczacibasi Dynavit ISTANBUL claimed an important 3-1 home victory over KS Developres RZESZÓW on Wednesday night to take the advantage in their #CLVolleyW quarterfinal series.
Playing in front of 3,214 spectators at Eczacibasi Spor Salonu, the Turkish side recovered from losing the opening set to secure a strong comeback and move a step closer to the Final Four scheduled for May in Istanbul.
Rzeszow started confidently and edged a competitive first set 25-22, with Taylor Bannister leading the Polish side’s attack. Bannister would finish the match as the top scorer with 21 points, including 19 successful spikes.
However, Eczacibasi responded emphatically in the second set, dominating from the start to level the match with a convincing 25-12 win.
The hosts maintained their momentum in the third set as Magdalena Stysiak (18 points) and Ebrar Karakurt (14 points) provided the offensive power needed to move ahead 2-1. In the fourth set, Rzeszow fought back and pushed the home side all the way, but Eczacibasi managed the crucial rallies to close the match 25-23 after 101 minutes of play.
Middle blocker Sinead Jack-Kisal delivered another strong performance at the net and was named MVP of the match, finishing with 15 points, including a match-high four kill blocks.
Eczacibasi also benefited from the contributions of Yaprak Erkek (12 points) and a solid reception performance from Simge Sebnem Aköz, who recorded the highest efficiency in the match with 40% perfect receptions.
With this victory, Eczacibasi now hold the advantage ahead of the decisive return leg in Rzeszów, where the Polish side will attempt to keep alive their hopes of reaching a historic #CLVolleyW Final Four.
Sinead Jack-Kisal“I’m happy that we were able to secure the first win and take the advantage before the return match. It will not be easy playing in Poland in front of their home crowd, but today we showed a lot of character and stayed together during the difficult moments. I’m very proud of our team and the staff. This MVP is really a reflection of my teammates – without them I would not have been able to achieve it.”
Player of Eczacibasi
Giulio Cesare Bregoli“It was not an easy match because Rzeszow changed some things compared to what we had studied, so in the first set we needed time to adapt. After that we played better, but we still need to improve our block-defence intensity because at this level the quality must be even higher. At the same time, I liked the character the team showed and the support from our fans gave us great energy tonight.”
Head Coach of Eczacibasi
Defending champions A. Carraro Prosecco DOC CONEGLIANO took a major step toward the Final Four of the CEV Champions League Volley 2026 after claiming a convincing 3-0 victory away from home against ANKARA Zeren Spor Kulübü on Wednesday night in the Turkish capital.
Playing in front of 3,802 spectators at the TVF Ziraat Bankkart Volleyball Hall, the Italian powerhouse delivered another composed and efficient performance to secure their 29th consecutive victory in the Champions League, setting a new all-time record in the competition.
The visitors approached the match with confidence despite the absence of Gabi and immediately imposed their rhythm. Conegliano’s aggressive serving and strong block-defence system created constant pressure on the home side, allowing the Italians to control the flow of the game from the opening rallies.
Although ANKARA Zeren Spor Kulübü showed moments of resistance, especially through Aleksandra Uzelac, who finished with 16 points, and Anna Lazareva, who added 11, the hosts struggled to maintain consistency against the depth and experience of the reigning champions.
Conegliano relied on a balanced offensive display, with Isabelle Haak, Zhu Ting, and MVP Fatoumatta Sillah all reaching double digits. Haak and Zhu each registered 16 points, while Sillah contributed 14 and played a key role in the team’s attacking rhythm.
The Italian side also dominated at the net, with Zhu Ting and Sarah Fahr each recording four winning blocks, while the team’s defence repeatedly created counterattack opportunities that proved decisive in the later stages of each set.
Despite the straight-sets outcome, the opening set was competitive, with the Turkish side staying close until the final points. However, once Conegliano gained momentum, the visitors gradually increased their advantage in the following sets to close the match in 77 minutes.
The second leg of the quarterfinal will take place next week in Treviso, where Conegliano will try to finish the job in front of their home fans and secure another appearance in the Final Four.
Fatoumatta Sillah“I’m really happy. We played a really good game and were very aggressive from the beginning. We prepared well because we knew Zeren are a strong team, so it was important for us to start with the right attitude.”
Player of Conegliano
Isabelle Haak“This was the first game and nothing is decided yet. We took three important points, but we have seen many times that teams can turn things around. We will stay focused for the second match.”
Player of Conegliano
Daniele Santarelli“I think we played a very good match. We knew it would not be easy here, especially without Gabi, but the team gave its best. Our block-defence worked very well and we created many counterattack opportunities.”
Head Coach of Conegliano
Stevan Ljubicic“For us, reaching the quarter-final stage was very important. Today we stepped onto the court for the first match of the quarter-finals. Overall, our opponent played better than us. At times we also had good moments and found our rhythm, but by making simple mistakes we gave our opponent more opportunities. I congratulate Conegliano. We still have one more match to play, and I hope we can show a better performance in Italy.”
Head Coach of Zeren
Savino Del Bene SCANDICCI delivered an impressive home performance to defeat Fenerbahçe Medicana ISTANBUL 3-0 in the first leg of their CEV Champions League Volley 2026 quarterfinal clash on Wednesday evening at Palazzo Wanny in Florence.
In front of an enthusiastic Italian crowd, the hosts produced a composed and aggressive display to secure a valuable advantage ahead of the decisive return match in Istanbul next week.
Scandicci relied on a powerful offensive performance from Ekaterina Antropova, who finished as the top scorer of the match with 25 points, including six aces that repeatedly put the Turkish side under pressure. Middle blocker Camilla Weitzel added 12 points, while captain Caterina Bosetti contributed 10 and was later named MVP of the encounter.
Despite the straight-set result, the contest was highly competitive, especially in the opening two sets. The first set saw the teams trading points throughout before Scandicci managed to edge ahead at the decisive moment. The second set turned into a dramatic battle that extended to 31-29, with the Italian side saving set points before eventually doubling their lead after a tense 38-minute exchange.
Fenerbahçe fought hard through their attacking duo of Melissa Vargas and Arina Fedorovtseva, who scored 23 and 15 points respectively. However, the visitors struggled to convert key moments, while Scandicci’s serving pressure and defence repeatedly disrupted the Turkish side’s rhythm.
The momentum gained from the dramatic second set carried into the third, where the Italian side gradually built a comfortable advantage and sealed the victory after 93 minutes of play.
The result gives Scandicci a crucial edge in the two-legged quarterfinal series as they continue their quest to reach the CEV Champions League Final Four for the second consecutive season.
The decisive second leg will take place next week in Istanbul, where Fenerbahçe Medicana will try to overturn the deficit in front of their home fans and keep their Final Four hopes alive.
Caterina Bosetti“We put a lot of pressure on them with our serve and our defence, and playing at home gave us extra energy. We are very happy with this win, but we know the second match will be another big challenge.”
Player of Scandicci