Champions League: in quarterfinals debut, Warszawa down Lublin in al-polish derby. Perugia reject Guaguas comeback to win at tie break!

PGE Projekt Warszawa moved a step closer to 2025/26 CEV Champions League Final Four after defeating their compatriots Bogdanka LUK Lublin 3–1 in an all-Polish quarterfinal clash.
Backed by an excited home crowd at their Torwar Hall, the team from country’s capital delivered a strong performance to secure a valuable first-leg advantage, winning the game 3–1 (25:14, 23:25, 26:24, 25:20).
The hosts made a powerful start, dominating the opening set 25–14. Bartosz Bednorz led the early charge with an impressive serve run, that included also two aces, helping Warszawa quickly build a commanding lead. Bartosz Gomułka and Jakub Kochanowski continued the task, helping the home side to keep control throughout the set.
Lublin replied in the second set, showing resilience after a slow start and, despite the rivals holding a late 20–16 lead, they mounted a comeback, led by Mateusz Malinowski and Hilir Henno. Wilfredo Leon also played important role as Lublin edged the set with the minimum gap, 25–23 to level the match.
The third set proved to be the turning point, with Lublin who carried their momentum early on, but Warszawa regained composure mostly thanks to a great Kevin Tillie and Bartosz Bednorz and, in a thrilling contested finish, Yurii Semeniuk sealed the set 26–24 with a decisive ace, regaining to the hosts the lead.
Warszawa kept their rhythm also in the fourth set, gradually pulling ahead with strong blocking and attacking. Bednorz and Tillie once again led the charge as the home side closed out the match 25–20, securing a 3–1 victory.
Bednorz, in fact, left the court as the match’s top scorer with 21 points, including 3 aces and 2 blocks, while MVP Tillie also contributed with 16 points with an efficient performance in attqck and a solid reception. Gomułka added 15 points for the winners while, on the other side of the net, Henno scored 19 points, while Malinowski added 15 and Leon added 12.
After narrowly missing the Final Four last season, Warszawa now hold a strong position ahead of the second leg in Lublin on April 1, as they need just two sets to secure their ticket to Turin, while Lublin will have to win 3-0 or 3-1 to force a Golden Set.
Meanwhile, in Spain, italian powerhouse Sir Sicoma Monini Perugia extended their winning streak to 11 matches after a win over the hostd Guaguas Las Palmas in a dramatic five-set game, 2-3 (23:25, 19:25, 25:21, 25:23, 13:15).
The visiting side took early control, winning the opening two sets mostly thanks to Wassim Ben Tara, while Kamil Semeniuk and Oleh Plotnytskyi provided a strong support as Perugia built a 2-0 lead.
The hosts, however, responded strongly, improving their play and showed a great resilience to claim the third and fourth sets, with Martí Ramos, Helder Spencer, and Osmany Juantorena, who lead the charge after leveling the match.
In the final set, Perugia regained momentum, establishing an important narrow lead and rejecting a late push from the hosts.
Ben Tara again sealed the victory with the decisive point, finishing as top scorer with 28 points. Plotnytskyi added 20, while Semeniuk, who scored 13, earned MVP honors. Francisco Wallysson Souza was the most prolific player for Guaguas with 20 points.
Perugia also held the edge in blocks (13-11) and aces (6-1), proving decisive in decisive moments of the game.
The second leg, which will decide qualification for the Final Four, is scheduled for April 1 too, and to progress to semifinal Perugia will have to win the game.

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🏆| 2025/26 CEV Champions League | Quarterfinals

FIRST LEG

👉🏼Tuesday March 24, 2026
📍Torwar Hall COS Warszawa
• 18.00 (Local Time) | PGE Projekt Warzawa (POL) – Bogdanka LUK Lublin (POL) 3-1 (25:14, 23:25, 26:24, 25:20)
📍Gran Canaria Arena Las Palmas
• 19.00 (Local Time) | Guaguas Las Palmas (ESP) – Sir Sicoma Monini Perugia (ITA) 2-3 (23:25, 19:25, 25:21, 25:23, 13:15)

Wednesday March 25, 2026
📍RCWS Podpromie Rzeszów
• 18.00 (Local Time) | Asseco Resovia Rzeszów (POL) – Ziraat Bankkart Ankara (TUR) 0-3 (21:25, 23:25, 20:25)
📍Eurosuole Forum Civitanova Marche
• 20.30 (Local Time) | Cucine Lube Civitanova (ITA) – Aluron CMC Warta Zawiercie (POL) 0-3 (22:25, 16:25, 29:31)

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SECOND LEG

Tuesday March 31, 2026
📍TVF Ziraat Bankkart Volleyball Hall Ankara / A
• 19.00 (Local Time) | Ziraat Bankkart Ankara (TUR) – Asseco Resovia Rzeszów (POL)

Wednesday April 1, 2026
📍Hala Globus Tomasz Wójtowicz Lublin
• 18.00 (Local Time) | Bogdanka LUK Lublin (POL) – PGE Projekt Warzawa (POL)
📍PalaBarton Perugia
• 18.00 (Local Time) | Sir Sicoma Monini Perugia (ITA) – Guaguas Las Palmas (ESP)

Thursday April 2, 2026
📍Arena Sosnowiec
• 18.00 (Local Time) | Aluron CMC Warta Zawiercie (POL) – Cucine Lube Civitanova (ITA)

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