Maritza and FC PORTO advance to #CLVolleyW Round 3

Bulgaria’s multiple national champions Maritza PLOVDIV and Portugal’s FC PORTO have progressed to Round 3 of the #CLVolleyW after recording the second victory in as many matches in their respective Round 2 fixtures. 

Maritza had looked ruthless last week when playing away at Montenegro’s OK HERCEG NOVI but the return match was far more closely contested. They lost the opening set as well as the fourth one but they remained composed to score a 15-10 tie-break win to make sure they would advance to Round 3 without contesting any Golden Set. As many as three players of Maritza scored more than 20 points, with Aleksandra Kitipova leading the way with 24, followed by Ana Pejicic and Elena Becheva with 22 apiece. 

Maritza have been regular contestants of the #CLVolleyW group stage and an early exit from the competition would have been quite a sensation. 

In the all-Iberian derby, FC PORTO were even more dominant than last week on home soil as they cruised to a comprehensive 3-0 victory over Spain’s Fundación Cajasol ANDALUCÍA (25-18, 25-16, 26-24), with Saska Djurovic and Caylen Alexander scoring the most points for the winners with 12 apiece. FC PORTO are a step away from reaching the group stage of the CEV Champions League Volley – a feat they had already achieved in the 2024/2025 season when they recorded two wins in their six League Round matches. 

It was not to be for Fundación Cajasol, who said goodbye to the CEV Champions League, but not to European competition. The team from Dos Hermanas suffered a 0-3 defeat in a match in which the Portuguese side proved physically superior. The Andalusian team will now compete in the CEV Cup, starting in the Round of 32.

Fundación Cajasol endured a difficult start to the match, with Sophia Meyers providing almost the only attacking threat from position four in the opening exchanges. An early 1-5 deficit forced Ricardo Fernandez Torronteras to call a timeout. However, the team struggled to respond, and the score soon reached a daunting 5-14. A double substitution, bringing on Elia Rodríguez Villanueva and Irene de Blas Galvez, had a positive impact, helping the home side close the gap to 9-17 with an excellent attack from position two. Improved blocking and defence allowed the home team to keep more balls in play and rebuild their attacks effectively, reducing the deficit to 16-21 and forcing the visitors to call a timeout. The Portuguese side, however, determined to avoid any surprises, responded strongly and closed out the opening set 25-18 in their favour. 

The second set began with several video challenges and, this time, a much more evenly contested battle on court. Zayna Meyer managed to distribute the ball more quickly to the wings, creating better attacking opportunities, particularly for Meyers. Middle blockers Megan Wilson and Marissa Stockman also contributed offensively through the centre. At 12-13, the set remained wide open. However, FC PORTO once again raised their level, particularly from the service line, making it difficult for the home side to establish a comfortable reception and build their attacking play. The Portuguese team’s well-organised double block awaited almost every attack, making scoring increasingly difficult. The set ended 25-16, reflecting the visitors’ physical superiority.

With nothing left to lose, Ricardo Torronteras’ team came out determined to fight in the third set. The introduction of Inmaculada Lavado Fernandez and Juliana Ocaña Pizarro helped Fundación Cajasol increase the pressure and stabilise their reception. The home side took an early 9-7 lead, forcing FC PORTO to call their first timeout of the set. María Reis produced an excellent attack from the five-metre line to make it 16-14, recovering brilliantly from a poor reception. The Portuguese side then moved ahead following a diagonal attack from an out-of-system ball that proved impossible to defend. But Fundación Cajasol refused to give up. With Ocaña at the service line, the home team turned the score around to lead 22-21. The Montequinto crowd began dreaming of a comeback, but that dream ultimately remained unfulfilled. FC PORTO demonstrated their experience and composure in the decisive moments. An extraordinary rally between both teams, which could have given the home side a 24-21 advantage, instead ended with the score at 23-22. Fundación Cajasol even earned a set point, but the Portuguese side executed their side-out play perfectly and eventually sealed the set 26-24, thus securing a straight-sets victory.

Fundación Cajasol’s European journey, however, is far from over. The team now moves into the CEV Cup, Europe’s second-tier club competition, where it will face Switzerland’s Viteos NEUCHATEL UC in the Round of 32. The first leg will take place at home on November 25, with the return fixture scheduled for the following Wednesday in Switzerland.

The Andalusian side now turns its attention back to the Liga Iberdrola, with its next match scheduled for this Sunday at 1:00 p.m. in Gran Canaria against CV Sayre CC La Ballena.

Round 2 ends on Thursday night with another two matches involving the reigning national champions of Azerbaijan, Belgium, Croatia, and Slovenia – and with Turan TOVUZ and Asterix Avo BEVEREN holding an advantage following their comprehensive wins on home court last week.