Volleyball World - News

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Russian star Arina Fedorovtseva led Fenerbache to a win over world champions Conegliano in the CEV Champions League (Photo: CEV)

It was a big week in the CEV Women’s Champions League, with the conclusion of the quarterfinal round, which saw the Turkish trio of Eczacibasi Dynavit Istanbul, VakifBank Istanbul and Fenerbache Opet and Italians Igor Gorgonzola Novara all advance to the continental Final Four.

At the national level, the playoffs continue in the SuperLega Credem Banca will four quarterfinal series heading to match four next weekend. The Lega Pallavolo Serie A1 Femminile is just two weeks away from completing its regular season schedule and new and important developments happened this past weekend.

Also heading to the postseason are the Brazilian Men’s Superliga, where eight teams remain in contention, and the Japanese V. League, where four clubs in each gender will fight for the men’s and women’s titles.

Beach volleyball saw the victories of USA's Kelly Cheng/Sara Hughes and Sweden's David Åhman/Jonatan Hellvig in the Volleyball World Beach Pro Tour Elite16 event held in Tepic. In Australia, a home team and a European duo claimed the country’s national title.

Here’s the best that happened around the world over the last few days:

Volleyball

CEV Women’s Champions League semifinalists determined

The semifinalists of the CEV Women’s Champions League were known over the week, with three Turkish teams taking up three of the four spots – Eczacibasi Dynavit Istanbul eliminated Poland’s Developres Rzeszów, VakifBank Istanbul knocked Italy’s Vero Volley Milano out and Fenerbache Opet Istanbul upset Italy’s Prosecco Doc Imoco Conegliano. Italian side Igor Gorgonzola Novara, which prevailed over Germany’s Allianz MTV Stuttgart, are the only exception. CEV has recaps for all the encounters.

SuperLega Credem Banca quarterfinals headed to leg four

Cucine Lube Civitanova and Gas Sales Bluenergy Piacenza managed to avoid a sweep in the SuperLega Credem Banca quarterfinals and will extend their series against WithU Verona and Valsa Group Modena for at least another leg after they claimed their first postseason victory on Sunday. Sir Safety Susa Perugia and Itas Trentino regained control of their series against Allianz Milano and Vero Volley Monza and now lead 2-1. Read all about it in our weekend recap.

Milano with a big Lega Pallavolo Serie A1 Femminile victory

Last year's runners-up Vero Volley Milano claimed a big weekend in the 24th leg of the Lega Pallavolo Serie A1 Femminile, topping fifth-placed Igor Gorgonzola Novara 3-1 on the road on Sunday. With the result, Milano have guaranteed at least third place heading into the postseason and cut the distance to second-placed Savino Del Bene Scandicci to only three points with two more rounds to be played before the end of the regular season.

Brazilian Men’s Superliga playoffs set

The playoffs of the Brazilian Men’s Superliga are set as the regular season in the South American country came to an end on Saturday. Defending champions Sada Cruzeiro, who ranked first in the regular season, will face eight-placed Apan Eleva Blumenau. The other three matchups will have Vedacit Vôlei Guarulhos (second) against Suzano Vôlei (seventh), Itambé Minas (third) facing SESI-SP (sixth) and Vôlei Renata (fourth) meeting Farma Conde Vôlei (fifth).

Eight teams remain in contention for Japan’s V. League titles

The men’s and women’s teams that will compete in the Japanese V. League Final Four were determined at the conclusion of the regular season this weekend. The four best sides among the men, Wolfdogs Nagoya, defending champions Suntory Sunbirds, Panasonic Panthers and Osaka Sakai Blazers are the ones to remain in contention. The women’s Final Four will see the Toray Arrows, Saitama Ageo Medics, defending champions Hisamitsu Springs and NEC Red Rockets compete for the title.

Beach Volleyball

Cheng/Hughes and Åhman/Hellvig score big wins in Tepic

USA's Kelly Cheng/Sara Hughes and Sweden's David Åhman/Jonatan Hellvig won the second Volleyball World Beach Pro Tour Elite16 event of the 2023 season, in Tepic. Both teams overcame the reigning world champions in the gold medal match in Mexico, with the Americans beating Brazilians Eduarda 'Duda' Lisboa and Ana Patrícia Ramos and the Swedish taking Norwegians Anders Mol and Christian Sørum down. Know more in our articles about the victory of Cheng/Hughes and the triumph of Åhman/Hellvig.

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Americans and Swedish stand at the top of the podium in Tepic

Home team and Europeans prevail at Australian Championships

The Australian Beach Volleyball Championships were held this weekend in Coolangatta Beach, the city that will host a Beach Pro Tour Futures next week, and saw a home team claimed the title in the women’s tournament and an international duo prevail among the men. Top-seeded Aussies Georgia Johnson and Jasmine Flaming were the winners among the women while Polish Mateusz Zieba and Italian Daniele Accoinci took the men’s title. Take a look at the Australian Federation recap of the event.

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Johnson and Flaming are the 2023 Australian champions (Photo: Volleyball Australia)