SCANDICCI through to #CLVolleyW Final Four after Golden Set thriller

Savino Del Bene SCANDICCI, runners-up of the 2025 #CLVolleyW, prevailed in a dramatic battle against Fenerbahçe Medicana ISTANBUL, sealing their place in the CEV ZEREN Group Champions League Volley 2026 – Final Four after a tense Golden Set. Despite arriving at Burhan Felek Voleybol Salonu in Istanbul with a commanding 3–0 advantage from the first leg, the Italian side were pushed to the limit as Fenerbahçe fought back to claim a thrilling 3–1 victory and force the decider. MVP Ekaterina Antropova led Scandicci with 30 points, including 7 aces, proving decisive in the crucial moments. On the other side, Arina Fedorovtseva and Melissa Vargas delivered outstanding performances with 36 and 30 points respectively, but their efforts were not enough to carry Fenerbahçe into the #CLVolleyW Final Four.

Quarter Finals | Fenerbahçe Medicana ISTANBUL (TUR) vs Savino Del Bene SCANDICCI (ITA) 3-1 (32-30, 19-25, 25-13, 27-25) Golden Set: 13-15

A powerful spike from Avery Skinner opened the match. Both teams felt the pressure early on, struggling from the service line and committing several errors (Fenerbahçe missed as many as 10 serves in the set, while Scandicci 3). A spike from Melissa Vargas and a block by Alessia Orro gave Fenerbahçe a first two-point lead at 7–5, but Scandicci kept pace. Ekaterina Antropova and Vargas confirmed their roles as team leaders in the opening phase. Entering the decisive stage, Antropova (6 points in the set), scoring both in attack and block, pushed Scandicci ahead 22–19. Fenerbahçe responded immediately, with Vargas delivering two aces in one run to level the score. Although Scandicci were first to reach set point at 24–23, the hosts saved it - and the following chances - to force a dramatic finish in extra time. Fenerbahçe earned their first opportunity at 27–26, but Scandicci continued to fight. In the decisve part of the set, Arina Fedorovtseva stepped up in the key moments, joining Vargas as the team's top scorer and sealing the set with a decisive block on Antropova for 32–30. She finished the set with 11 points (2 blocks, 9 kills at 69%), while Vargas added 10 (2 aces, 8 kills at 42%).

A fierce battle for every point continued at the start of the second set. Fenerbahçe held a slight edge at 10–8, but Ekaterina Antropova turned the momentum with two consecutive aces, first levelling the score and then pushing Scandicci ahead 11–10, sparking another tense point-by-point exchange. From that moment on, neither side was able to build even a two-point cushion. The turning point came at 18–18, when Antropova (9 points in the set) stepped to the service line and made a decisive impact. With a superb run, including two more aces, she powered Scandicci to a commanding 24–18 lead. Shortly after, the Italian side closed the set 25–19, moving the 2025 #CLVolleyW runners-up one step closer to the Final Four.

With no margin for error, Fenerbahçe came out strong from the very start of the third set, with Arina Fedorovtseva stepping up as the key figure. After struggling from the service line in the opening two sets, she found her rhythm at the perfect moment, taking her team from 3–3 to 9–6 with a powerful run that included two aces. That advantage proved decisive for the rest of the set, as Scandicci were unable to respond, while Fenerbahçe kept full control (14–5). Backed by strong performances from Melissa Vargas (5 points), Eda Erdem (4) and Fedorovtseva (5), the hosts continued to dominate. Coach Gaspari opted to rest some of his key players, while Fenerbahçe maintained their momentum (20–8). An ace from Vargas eventually sealed the set 25–13, keeping the hosts' hopes alive.

Antropova, full of fresh energy, led Scandicci to a strong 4–1 start, and after stepping to the service line extended the lead to 9–2. The Italian side controlled the game with Camilla Weitzel standing out in block, while Antropova continued to drive the attack (12–5). Fenerbahçe, however, refused to surrender and gradually reduced the gap to 13–9. A sharp line spike from Antropova, followed by an ace, restored a five-point advantage at 17–12. The drama was far from over. Powerful and spectacular attacks from Arina Fedorovtseva and Melissa Vargas (9 and 8 points in the set, respectively), fueled by the home crowd, brought Fenerbahçe back level at 21–21 and shortly after into the lead at 22–21. The hosts had a chance to close the set at 24–23, but Scandicci denied it - only to miss their own opportunity moments later. A crucial block on Antropova (11 points in the set) by Ana Cristina, followed by a stunning ace from Vargas, sealed the 3–1 win for Fenerbahçe and sent the race for a Final Four spot into a Golden Set.

The Golden Set delivered no less drama. Avery Skinner emerged as the key figure early on, scoring both in block and attack to give Scandicci a 3–0 lead. Although the hosts quickly levelled at 3–3, the next five points went to the Italian side, with Ekaterina Antropova once again leading the charge (8–3). Fenerbahçe refused to give up and, after a spike from Fedorovtseva, reduced the gap to just one point at 12–11. However, Skinner stepped up again at a crucial moment, her attack pushing Scandicci to 14–12. The first Golden Set point was saved, but the second proved decisive, as Antropova sealed the set 15–13 and booked Scandicci’s place in the #CLVolleyW Final Four.

Ekaterina Antropova led the way with 30 points, including 7 aces and 23 kills (41% success), and was named MVP of the match. She was followed by Avery Skinner with 16 points. On Fenerbahçe's side, Arina Fedorovtseva topped all scorers with an outstanding 36 points, including 5 blocks, 2 aces and 29 kills at an impressive 69% efficiency, along with 41% positive reception. Melissa Vargas also delivered a strong performance, adding 30 points (4 aces, 2 blocks, 24 kills).