In the men's Champions League, Trentino (without Wout D'Heer) took an option on a final place in front of 3535 viewers after a 3-1 win against Civitanova.

In the Italian league too, Trentino continued the streak and thanks to a third win against Modena, bench player D'Heer's team qualified for the semi-finals of the play-offs, as did Perugia by the way. A second win at Piacenza was not in the cards for Milan and Ferre Reggers (20p - 33%, 3 blocks). They need to win the next two games against Piacenza to also end up in the semi-finals.

In the Danish league, however, Dries Hoeyberghs is sure of the semi-finals. His team won 1-3 in and from Middelfart and will play the semi-finals in a "best of 5" against Danish number 3, Vestsjaelland, from 23 March.

Orion, Liam McCluskey's team in the Netherlands, is also already sure of a place in the semi-finals after a 1-3 win against rival Draisna Apeldoorn.

In Russia, Zenit Kazan (Sam Deroo, 7 points) qualified for the quarterfinals of the playoffs after an easy 3-0 win at Novokuybyshevsk, for which Lokomotiv, Belogorye and Dinamo Moscow also already qualified.

In Greece, PAOK Saloniki (Bram Van den Dries) had to try to stay in the semi-finals of the playoffs last night, provided a win at Panathinaikos, which won the previous two matches. And whether they did! Led by Bram (19 points, 60%, 2 aces, 2 blocks), PAOK won 1-3 in and at the Athenians, who lost for the first time in three months.

A win for François Lecat and Tursad in Turkey: 3-1 against A. Belediyespor.

In Croatia, Mladost Kastela (Simon Luka Vlahovic) won 2-3 at Varazdin.

Igor Grobelny was allowed to join Project Warsaw once more, but his 5 points at 77% were not enough against Jastrzevski: three times 25-23.

Tension in Romania

Kaja Grobelna is as good as certain of cup winning the CEV Cup in the middle of this week. After all, during the outward match in Neuchatel, Kaja (17p) already won 0-3 with Chieri. In the women's Champions League, Milan (albeit without Laura Heyrman) will play the final for the second time in a row. In the return match, Milan won 3-1 against the Turkish Fenerbahçe.  Conegliano recovered a 0-2 deficit against Eczacibasi with Isabelle Haak once again top scorer with 37 points. 5 May, Heyrman will play the final with Vero Volley Milan.

In the Italian league, Heyrman (9p - 57%) was allowed to feature in Milan's 3-1 win over Firenze. Grobelna was rested at Chieri, which prevailed 0-3 over Cuneo. Dominika Sobolska was also rested, but her team, Busto Arsizio, did lose 3-1 at Trentino. Britt Herbots (8p. - 29%, 67% rec.) was allowed to play for Scandicci: 3-0 win against Roma.

In Germany, Nathalie Lemmens - one of the most constant Belgian players abroad - continues to confirm: 12 points, 80%, 2 blocks, 2 aces. Her team, Dresdner, won 3-1 over Potsdam in the title series of the playoffs. In the play downs, Vilsbiburg (with top shooter Pauline Martin - 24 points, 42%) lost 1-3 against Münster. Aachen also closed its last match of the season in last place after losing 1-3 against Wiesbaden, but Celine Van Gestel's team (12 points, 34%) does not drop.

Dominika Strumilo lost the first semi-final in Hungary with Bekescsabai: 3-1 at KNRC.
In Greece, Markopoulou (Lara Nagels - 5 points, 33%, 3 blocks) let a 0 - 2 lead slip at PAOK Saloniki: 15-13 in the tiebreak.

Appalling tension in Romania. Voluntari (with Ilka Van de Vyver barely on the pitch) knocked Lugoj 3-0 keeping them off the lead. Alba-Blaj (without Britt Rampelberg), however, beat leader Rapid Bucharest 3-2. As a result, the first three teams (Alba-Blaj, Rapid Bucharest and Targoviste) are all tied on 49 points, Lugoj is fourth with 48 points and Voluntari fifth with 45 points; and that's just two match days from the end of the regular league.

Tirgu Mures (with coach Julien Van de Vyver and Freya Aelbrecht, 12p - 45%) lost 1-3 against Dinamo Bucharest.

In France, Terville (Elise Van Sas - 2 points, 67%) lost 1-3 to Paris and Silke Van Avermaet (16 points) crowned herself MVP once again at Mulhouse, which won 1-3 against Chamalières.