It was a brilliant week for Britt Herbots and her team Scandicci. For the first time in the club’s history, they reached the Final Four in the Champions League after winning eight matches without losing a single set. Britt herself scored 6 points (44%) in the last match against GB Lodz (the team of Dominika Sobolska), including two aces. In the first match of the Final Four, the opponent will be Vakifbank Istanbul, the organizing team. The other semi-final will be an all-Italian duel between Conegliano and Milan.
This means that Laura Heyrman also reached the Final Four without setting foot on the court. The same happened in Italy when her team Milano reached the semi-finals of the Italian championship by defeating Vallefoglia (2-3) in front of 4,561 spectators. However, Britt was on the court in the quarter-finals against Busto Arsizio (where Silke Van Avermaet performed excellently with 8 points at 88% !!!). She helped her team come back from a 2-0 deficit to win in the tiebreak with 16 points (50%). Along with Milan and Scandicci, Conegliano also qualified for the semi-finals after two matches. The winner of Chieri-Novara will determine the fourth semi-finalist.

Drama in Turkey for Hélène Rousseaux.

After scoring 27 points (60%) in the first championship match of the Turkish second division, securing a 3-1 victory for her team Kulubu against Karsiyaka, she suffered an injury at the beginning of the decisive second match, landing on an opponent's foot. The result: four torn ligaments, minor cartilage damage, and a bone piercing through the skin without breaking. She was prescribed two weeks of complete immobilization, after which she may return home. Kulubu eventually won and was promoted to the first league. The question remains whether Hélène will witness this promotion after helping her team achieve it for the second consecutive year.

In Germany, another excellent performance from Nathalie Lemmens (11 points, 80%) helped Dresden secure a 0-3 victory against Wiesbaden. A Belgian duel took place in Potsdam (Anna Koulberg 14p – 47%) and Suhl (Lara Nagels 1 block), with Potsdam winning 3-1. In the Stuttgart – Münster match (3-1), Pauline Martin barely played, and Charlotte Krenicky did not step onto the court.

In France, Venelles (Britt Rampelberg 21% reception) defeated Chamalières 3-2, allowing Levallois Paris St.-Cloud to take the lead in the French league by a single point.

In Poland, Dominika Sobolska shined last night, scoring 11 points (85%) and leading GB Lodz to victory against city rival Com Lodz: 0-3 (29-31 final set).

In Greece, PAOK won the city derby against Aris Thessaloniki 1-3, thanks in part to Ilka Van de Vyver (4p – 20% and 3 aces).

In Serbia, Mila Vlahovic scored 2 points (29%) with Radnicki, but they were swept 3-0 (25-19, 25-11, 25-12) by Srem.

In Japan, mixed results for our compatriots. First, a 1-3 victory for Queenseis (Kaja Grobelna 21p – 36%), followed by a 3-0 loss against Gunma (Kaja 6, 23%). Osaka (Lise Van Hecke 25p – 37%) lost 2-3 against Ishikawa before getting revenge with a 3-0 victory the next day (Lise 15p – 46%).

Dries Hoeyberghs in the semi-finals after all.

In Denmark, Dries Hoeyberghs and Nordenskov turned a difficult situation around. After a home loss in the quarter-finals against Odense, they first won 1-3 in the second match and then secured a 3-1 victory in the decisive match. In the semi-finals, they will face Gentofte in a best-of-five series.

In Italy, Ferre Reggers (9p – 41%) and Milan were brought back down to earth with a heavy 0-3 defeat against Civitanova (15, 13, 17 points conceded). Notably, no team is yet guaranteed a semi-final spot after two matches.

In Poland, Kedzierzyn squandered a 2-0 lead against Rzeszov (with Stephen Boyer scoring 39p – 65%), despite 22 points from local top scorer Igor Grobelny (61%). In the final set, Mathijs Desmet recorded 5 points (65%) for Gorzow, but they still lost 1-3 to Olsztyn.

In Spain, league leader Guaguas lost 3-0 against Almeria without Tomas Rousseaux (knee injury).
In Germany, 3-0 victories for Düren (coach Christophe Achten and Robbe Van de Velde 9p – 50%) against Freiburg and for Berlin against Dachau. Simon Plaskie had to settle for a few substitute appearances.

In Romania, Craiova (Marin Dukic 14p – 40%) lost the semi-final of the play-offs 3-1 against Brasov.

In Croatia, Simon Vlahovic scored 8 points (100%) and three blocks for Ribola Kastela, leading to a 0-3 victory against Split.

Foto: Legavolley Femminile