Bogdanka LUK Lublin continued their flawless run in the Champions League with a dramatic 3–2 victory over Halkbank Ankara on the road. The Polish side, already assured of a direct place in the quarterfinals before the match, showed no signs of slowing down as they claimed their fifth straight win in Pool B.
The encounter in Ankara delivered everything fans could hope for — momentum swings, clutch serving, and standout individual performances. After edging the opening set 26–24, Halkbank looked confident. But Lublin quickly responded, taking control in the second set with a commanding 25–16 win.
The third set proved pivotal. Bogdanka held their nerve in a tight finish, sealing it 26–24 to move within one set of victory. Halkbank refused to back down, however, and roared back to claim the fourth set 26–24, forcing a decisive tie-break.
In the fifth set, the visitors found another gear. Strong serving and clinical attacking made the difference as Lublin closed out the match 15–11 to complete a hard-earned 3–2 triumph.
Hilir Henno was the star of the night and earned MVP honors after an outstanding performance. The outside hitter scored 26 points, attacking at an impressive 64 percent efficiency (21 successful spikes from 33 attempts), while also contributing four aces and a block. Wilfredo Leon added 21 points, Jackson Young contributed 16, and Aleks Grozdanow chipped in with 13.
For Halkbank, Matey Kaziyski led the scoring with 21 points, followed by Yoandy Leal with 16 and Tsvetan Sokołov with 13.
Statistically, Bogdanka proved more effective in attack and particularly dominant from the serve line, registering nine aces compared to Halkbank’s three. That edge ultimately tipped the balance in a contest that could have gone either way.
Final score:
Halkbank Ankara – Bogdanka LUK Lublin 2:3 (26:24, 16:25, 24:26, 26:24, 11:15)