Luxembourg, March 3, 2020.  Grupa Azoty Chemik Police and SSC Palmberg Schwerin did not allow any surprises in their second-leg games of the women’s CEV Volleyball Cup 2020 quarterfinals and marched on to take their well-deserved spot among the semifinalists of Europe’s second-tier club competition.

Poland’s Grupa Azoty Chemik Police took only 67 minutes to hammer out a 3-0 (25-19, 25-18, 25-10) victory over Croatia’s Mladost Zagreb to please the well over three thousand home fans in Szczecin with the qualification to the next round. This way the Polish stronghold did not drop a single set against the quarterfinal opponent in either match of the series. The visiting team managed to stay competitive only through 12-12 in the first set. From that point on, the game was all about the home team and they cruised on to a convincing straight-set win. Martyna Grajber was the best scorer of the match with a 14-point contribution to the victory. The only other players to reach the double digits on the scorers chart were her Cuban teammates Wilma Salas (12) and Gyselle Silva (10).

Playing their second match on Wednesday, France’s Volero Le Cannet and Belarus’s Minchanka Minsk will determine Chemik’s semifinal opponent.


The team of SSC Palmberg Schwerin celebrate a point

SSC Palmberg Schwerin were even more emphatic in their home match with Asterix Avo Beveren. Having won the first match in Belgium in four sets, the Germans were merciless at home – 3-0 (25-13, 25-16, 25-14) in just 66 minutes of play. Palmberg dominated throughout the match, outplaying their rival on all counts. Still, Asterix’s Paula Boonstra topped the scorers’ chart of the match on 12 points, one clear of Palmberg’s Kimberly Drewniok. Lauren Barfield impressed with four stuff blocks for the winners.

Denise Hanke, captain of SSC Palmberg Schwerin: "We did a good job and played good block-defence. Playing in front of our home crowd is always amazing!"

Kris Vansnick, head coach of Asterix Avo Beveren: "The team from Schwerin did a great job. They were serving very well. We just didn't show what we're able to do."

Schwerin’s semifinal opponent is to become known on a future date yet to be determined, as the re-match between defending CEV Cup titleholders Unet e-work Busto Arsizio of Italy and Russian standout Dinamo Kazan was postponed because of the coronavirus outbreak in northern Italy.


For more info, go to the CEV Cup 2020 section.