Benfica began their European volleyball season on a high note, defeating Slovenian champions OTP Banka Branik 3–1 (23-25, 25-18, 28-26, 25-18) in Lisbon.
After dropping the first set 23–25, Benfica quickly regrouped, dominating the second with powerful serves and a tight defense. The turning point came in the third set, where Branik held two set points but couldn’t convert. Benfica seized the moment — American blocker Claudia Dillon sealed the set with two consecutive blocks, igniting her team’s momentum.
From there, Benfica took full control. Their international lineup dictated the pace of the fourth set, pulling ahead 9–4 and never allowing the Slovenians to recover. Dillon finished as the team’s top scorer with 17 points, including five blocks, while fellow American Kyra Holt and Serbian duo Veronika Dokić and Isidora Ubavić each added 15.
Benfica’s depth and consistency proved decisive, spreading scoring duties evenly across the roster. The win puts them in a strong position ahead of the return leg in Maribor on November 12, where they’ll look to finish the job and secure a spot in the group stage.
