#CLVolleyW group stage comes to a close with high-stake fixtures

What started back in late November is now coming together later this week with the very last round of action in the #CLVolleyW group stage. Even though some roles are already defined, there is still very much at stake including mouth-watering matchups that will decide the eventual leadership in Pools A, C, and E – and another chapter of the Italian-Turkish rivalry that has been entertaining Volleyball fans for a while now will unfold, with VakifBank taking on Club World champions SCANDICCI and Numia Vero Volley MILANO playing host to Eczacibasi Dynavit. Volleyball stars will be parading and will be asked to rise to the occasion to help their teams secure progression to the quarterfinals or at least a spot in the intermediate Playoff Round. 

Pool A 

VakifBank ISTANBUL (TUR) vs Savino Del Bene SCANDICCI (ITA) 

Earlier this season, six-time #CLVolleyW winners VakifBank made amends for their heavy loss in last year’s semi-final as they beat SCANDICCI 3-1 in Florence, thereby conceding one of only two sets they have dropped along the way this far. However, it is still all to play for when it comes to the leadership in the pool, since SCANDICCI may take first place if they were to win 3-0 or 3-1 in Istanbul. It is no easy task for the side coached by Marco Gaspari, but as the recently crowned Club World champions, Savino Del Bene will travel to Istanbul aiming high, also relying on their 2-2 win-loss record in previous matches with VakifBank. Giovanni Guidetti’s team, on the other hand, will be propelled by their ability to stay undefeated this far in the group – and their away victory over SCANDICCI earlier this season ended a negative streak encompassing the previous three #CLVolleyW matches versus Italian opposition. 

CS Volei Alba BLAJ (ROU) vs Volero LE CANNET (FRA) 

Volero LE CANNET and CS Volei Alba BLAJ occupy third and fourth place in the current standing of Pool A. To stay in front of their Romanian rivals, Volero will have to take at least two sets when they play each other for a second time this season, this time in Blaj. Back in early January, Volero claimed their sole victory this season so far when they beat Alba Volei 3-1 on home soil. There is a spot in the quarterfinals of the CEV Cup at stake – with the current head-to-heads reading in favour of Volero with four wins to three for Alba Volei, even though Volero has won the last three such matches in a row. 

Pool B 

Fenerbahçe Medicana ISTANBUL (TUR) vs PGE Budowlani ŁÓDŹ (POL) 

With an immaculate record of five wins in as many matches this far, the Yellow Angels of Fenerbahçe have already secured first place in Pool B. However, they will be trying to further consolidate their grip and improve their record to have a more favourable path – at least on paper – to the Final Four. Earlier this season. Fenerbahçe travelled to Poland to claim an emphatic 3-0 victory powered by Melissa Vargas (17 points) and Hande Baladin (13). The Yellow Angels will enjoy the opportunity to improve their record in matches with PGE Budowlani to eight wins (the most against any opponent) – to this day, they have dropped only one set in their previous fixtures with the Polish team, all contested in the group stage of the competition. Budowlani, on the other hand, need to hold on to third place in the pool if they are to continue their European journey in the quarterfinals of the CEV Cup. 

Igor Gorgonzola NOVARA (ITA) vs Sport LISBOA e Benfica (POR)

Even if they cannot overtake Fenerbahçe at the top of the group, Igor Gorgonzola will be highly motivated in this matchup to improve their record and try to secure a more favourable opponent in the Playoff Round. The wildcard holders and 2019 #CLVolleyW winners lost twice to Fenerbahçe this season, but were especially impressive in their close 2-3 defeat at the hands of the Yellow Angels. Earlier this season, when they played each other for the first time, NOVARA beat Benfica 3-0 in the Portuguese capital city, much courtesy of Tatiana Tolok, as their Russian opposite hitter scored 25 points in the process. Benfica are the clear underdogs, but they have improved with each match this season and will travel to Italy to put up a fight and try to prolong their journey in the European Cups – a feat they would achieve if they were to overtake PGE Budowlani for third place in the final standing of the pool. 

Pool C 

Numia Vero Volley MILANO (ITA) vs Eczacibasi Dynavit ISTANBUL (TUR) 

With first place in the pool and direct progression to the quarterfinals at stake, this fixture is certainly among the ‘big matches’ of the week. Earlier this season, Eczacibasi emerged victorious at home (3-2) but they are still chasing MILANO in the group following their rather surprising loss at the hands of Olympiacos in Greece. Still, with their 3-2 home win, Eczacibasi could break their negative streak in matches with Vero Volley – as they had lost both at home and away in last season’s quarterfinals. Following the matchup contested earlier this year, Eczacibasi improved their win-loss record with Italian teams to 14-27, whereas MILANO dropped to seven wins and as many losses in matchups with Turkish opposition. That loss also ended a positive streak of four wins in a row for Vero Volley in matches with Turkish clubs. With the home-court advantage on their side, Paola Egonu and her teammates will be trying to secure a much-needed victory to skip the Playoff Round and advance directly to the quarterfinals. However, this is a goal that is shared also by Eczacibasi and their Italian-born head coach Giulio Bregoli. Watch out for a battle that will most likely go down to the wire! 

OK Železničar LAJKOVAC (SRB) vs Olympiacos PIRAEUS (GRE) 

The rookies from Serbia will be saying goodbye to the #CLVolleyW as well as to the European Cups for this season with a home match against another side making their very first appearance in the group stage of the competition, Olympiacos. As things currently stand, Olympiacos are still in full contention for a spot in the Playoff Round. Therefore, this matchup is highly important for the side coached by Branko Kovacevic, who plays the team he did himself coach from the 2020/2021 season up until 2023/2024. In their previous clash in early January, Olympiacos secured a 3-1 home win propelled by the 24 points scored by Milica Kubura. It remains to be seen whether the Greek champions will be able to count on their star middle blocker Jovana Stevanovic, who last week missed the home match with MILANO due to injury.  

Pool D 

A. Carraro Prosecco DOC CONEGLIANO (ITA) vs. ŁKS Commercecon ŁÓDŹ (POL) 

The Panthers recently crowned themselves Italian Cup winners for the eighth time and shortly afterwards travelled to Ankara where they routed Zeren Spor Kulübü to secure first place in the pool with one round to go. Their third and final home match in Pool D may look like a formality, but CONEGLIANO will be trying to further improve their record to secure a better ‘draw’ for the quarterfinals. After a less successful start to the season than usual, Santarelli’s team is back on track and are aiming for an unprecedented third title in a row, something that has not happened since the #CLVolleyW was introduced some 25 years ago. The ‘Panthers’ have an immaculate 3-0 win-loss record in matches with ŁKS Commercecon ŁÓDŹ – without losing a single set – whereas their opponents have a 0-9 record in fixtures versus Italian opposition, so the roles are pretty clear going into this matchup. 

DRESDNER SC (GER) vs. ANKARA Zeren Spor Kulübü (TUR) 

With wildcard holders Zeren already sure of second place in the pool, the stakes are especially high for DRESDNER SC as they are still in contention for a spot in the Playoff Round. Earlier this season, Anna Lazareva and Aleksandra Uzelac helped ANKARA secure a 3-0 victory on home soil. This result worsened the record of DRESDNER SC in matches with Turkish teams to 1-12, but the Germans will have an opportunity to redeem themselves in front of their home crowd, hoping to repeat their sensational victory over Fenerbahçe from the Playoffs 12 of the 2014/2015 season. 

Pool E 

KS Developres RZESZÓW (POL) vs. SSC Palmberg SCHWERIN (GER) 

The battle between these two teams will decide which side ends up in first place and progresses straight to the quarterfinals – and which one will have to go through the Playoff Round of the competition. Earlier this season, KS Developres emerged victorious from an incredibly tight match (15-12 at the tiebreak), with Julita Piasecka scoring as many as 28 points. If that previous match is anything to go by, the fans in Rzeszow are likely to experience much of the same on Wednesday late afternoon. With their victory away from home, KS Developres slightly improved their record in #CLVolleyW group phase matches with SCHWERIN to 1-2 and when playing at home, they will also try to capitalise on their 6-2 favourable overall record in matches with German opposition. On the other hand, SSC Palmberg SCHWERIN have a 3-4 win-loss record against Polish clubs in the Champions League. Therefore, even historical data let us expect an incredibly exciting and close battle, even more so with that much at stake!  

LEVALLOIS PARIS Saint Cloud (FRA) vs. Maritza PLOVDIV (BUL) 

Les Mariannes still have a chance to move to the Playoff Round of the #CLVolleyW depending on the results of the matches in other pools, whereas Maritza could overtake their opponents in third place and thus continue their journey in the CEV Cup quarterfinals should they win in Paris. In early January, Maritza beat LEVALLOIS 3-1 at home to secure their only victory in the group this far. That was the very first match for LEVALLOIS PARIS Saint Cloud against Bulgarian opposition in their #CLVolleyW history. On the other hand, courtesy of that result, Maritza PLOVDIV improved their record in the Champions League against French clubs to 3-6.