CEV Cup: Lüneburg and Piacenza take first step towards Semifinals!

In first leg of 2025/26 CEV Cup quarterfinals, Germany’s SVG Lüneburg and Gas Sales BluEnergy Piacenza from Italy take first step towards semifinals.
The first one celebrated a 3-1 (25:23, 25:22, 22:25, 25:14) home win over France’s Alterna SPVB Poitiers.
SVG Lüneburg continued their strong form in Europe in front of 2,676 fans at the LKH Arena.
Just four days after lifting the DVV Cup against VfB Friedrichshafen, the German side delivered another great performance, controlling much of the match, winning the opening two sets before Poitiers responded in the third. The hosts, however, dominated the fourth set to secure the win after 111 minutes of play.
Axel Enlund was named MVP and finished as the match’s top scorer with 22 points through 57% in attack, while Daniel Gruvaeus and Jackson Howe also reached double digits. For Poitiers, who also suffered the absence of Simon Magnin, absent due flu, Thomas Pujol top-scored with 20 points.
The result gives Lüneburg an advantage heading into the return leg in France next week.
Meanwhile, Piacenza needed just 69 minutes to close an easy game in Germany celebrating a clean 0-3 (17:25, 14:25, 18:25) over an unrecognizable Berlin Recycling Volleys at the Max-Schmeling-Halle in Berlin in front of 3,608 spectators.
Efe Mandiraci top-scored the winners with 13 points, but double digit also for Alessandro Bovolenta who left the court with 10.
Berlin briefly kept pace early in the opening set, even taking a narrow 12-11 lead after a block by Jake Hanes. However, Piacenza quickly responded with a decisive run sparked by the serving of Miguel Gutierrez and the blocks of Yoris Seddik, pulling away to take the first set 25-17.
The second set was even more one-sided. Piacenza increased the pressure from the serve line with Paolo Porro and Efe Mandiraci, opening a large gap midway through the set and cruising to a comfortable 25-14 win.
The visitors maintained their momentum also in decisive third set, jumping to an early double-digit lead and never allowing the hosts back into the match, with Seddik who sealed the victory with a block to close the set 25-18.
Setter Paolo Porro, who finished with four points and guided the Italian attack throughout the match, was named MVP. For Berlin, Jake Hanes scored 10 points, followed by Moritz Reichert who added only six.
Piacenza also dominated the statistics, finishing with 10 blocks, four aces, and a 60% attack success rate, compared to Berlin’s three blocks, one ace, and 30% efficiency in attack.
The second leg will be played in Piacenza on March 11, and the Italian club needs only two sets to secure a place in the semifinals. Berlin, meanwhile, must win 3-0 or 3-1 to force a Golden Set.

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🏆| 2025/26 CEV Cup | Quarterfinals

FIRST LEG

👉🏼Wednesday March 4, 2026
📍LKH Arena Lüneburg
• 19.00 (Local Time) | SVG Lüneburg (GER) – Alterna SPVB Poitiers (FRA) 3-1 (25:23, 25:22, 22:25, 25:14)
📍Max-Schmeling-Halle Berlin
• 19.30 (Local Time) | Berlin Recycling Volleys (GER) – Gas Sales Bluenergy Piacenza (ITA) 0-3 (17:25, 14:25, 18:25)

Thursday March 5, 2026
📍Burhan Felek Voleybol Salonu Istanbul
• 20.00 (Local Time) | Galatasaray HDI Istanbul (TUR) – Greenyard Maaseik (BEL) 2-3 (23:25, 26:24, 23:25, 25:23, 11:15)
📍Sportna Dvorana Tivoli Ljubljana
• 20.00 (Local Time) | ACH Volley Ljubljana (SLO) – Fenerbahçe Medicana Istanbul (TUR) 3-2 (25:17, 21:25, 25:16, 23:25, 16:14)

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SECOND LEG

Tuesday March 10, 2026
📍Lawson Body Poitiers
• 20.00 (Local Time) | Alterna SPVB Poitiers (FRA) – SVG Lüneburg (GER) 1-3 (27:29, 25:19, 24:26, 24:26)

Wednesday March 11, 2026
📍PalaBanca Piacenza
• 19.30 (Local Time) | Gas Sales Bluenergy Piacenza (ITA) – Berlin Recycling Volleys (GER) 3-0 (25:21, 29:27, 25:18)
📍Steengoed Arena Maaseik
• 20.30 (Local Time) | Greenyard Maaseik (BEL) – Galatasaray HDI Istanbul (TUR) 3-1 (21:25, 25:14, 25:12, 37:35)

Thursday March 12, 2026
📍Burhan Felek Voleybol Salonu Istanbul
• 19.00 (Local Time) | Fenerbahçe Medicana Istanbul (TUR) – ACH Volley Ljubljana (SLO) 1-3 (25:19, 19:25, 21:25, 16:25)

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