Two European powerhouses kicked off Leg 1 Round 4 of the CEV ZEREN Group Champions League Volley 2026 | Women with home victories.
In Istanbul, six-time European champions VakifBank opened their Pool A campaign with a confident 3–0 sweep over Volero Le Cannet (25–19, 25–16, 25–19). After falling behind by seven in the opening set, VakifBank’s trademark composure and firepower, led by MVP Marina Markova, turned the tide. Strong serving, a tightened block, and fast distribution from Cansu Özbay allowed the hosts to erase the deficit and dominate the rest of the match.
Markova, who delivered a standout scoring performance, called the win “an important step” and praised her team’s ambition after the straight-sets victory.
Meanwhile, in a full PALMBERG Arena, SSC Palmberg Schwerin launched their ninth Champions League campaign with a 3–1 win over Levallois Paris Saint-Cloud (25–22, 17–25, 25–15, 25–20). Schwerin relied on aggressive serving, disciplined defence, and a late-match surge from Leana Grozer to reclaim momentum after dropping the second set. Jet Kok earned MVP honours with 20 points, driving the German side to a decisive finish.
