The semi-final picture in the Europe Cup Women is now confirmed. MIRÓ Ganxets Costa Durada, Linz AG Froschberg, and ASD Quattro Mori Cagliari have secured their places among the final four after decisive performances across the quarterfinal ties. They all joined SKST Plus Hodonín, after Czech club booked their place yesterday.
With qualification sealed, the competition now moves into its decisive stage, where four ambitious sides remain in the race for the Europe Cup Women title in April.
Linz AG Froschberg reach semi-finals with two-leg success
Linz AG Froschberg secured their place in the semi-finals of the Europe Cup Women after recording victories in both legs against Son Cladera TTC – Mallorca.
The Austrian side laid the foundation in the opening leg in Spain, where they claimed a 3-1 win. Back on home soil, they confirmed qualification with a 3-0 success, completing the tie without conceding an overall setback.
Despite the clear aggregate outcome, the return match was far from straightforward. All three encounters went the distance, with Linz prevailing in each decisive game to underline their composure and experience in crucial moments.
“This is one step closer. We are among the top teams now, but our goal is to reach the final. We are getting stronger and stronger, and today’s 3-0 victory gives us even more confidence,” said Britt EERLAND.
Linz AG Froschberg – Son Cladera TTC – Mallorca 3-0
- Suthasini SAWETTABUT – Katarzyna WEGRZYN 3-2 (11-1, 11-13, 12-10, 9-11, 6-3)
- Britt EERLAND – Pauline CHASSELIN 3-2 (6-11, 11-5, 8-11, 11-7, 6-3)
- Andrea PAVLOVIC – Eugenia SASTRE 3-2 (11-5, 11-5, 9-11, 3-11, 6-1)
Opening leg
Son Cladera TTC Mallorca – Linz AG Froschberg 1–3
- Pauline CHASSELIN – Suthasini SAWETTABUT 1-3 (7-11, 11-9, 9-11, 7-11)
- Ainhoa CRISTOBAL – Britt EERLAND 0-3 (6-11, 8-11, 3-11)
- Eugenia SASTRE – Ivana MALOBABIC 3-1 (11-8, 9-11, 11-9, 12-10)
- Pauline CHASSELIN – Britt EERLAND 2-3 (7-11, 9-11, 11-9, 13-11, 4-6)
ASD Quattro Mori Cagliari secure Europe Cup Women semi-final place
After winning the opening leg 3-0, ASD Quattro Mori Cagliari needed just two points in the return match to confirm their place in the Europe Cup Women semi-finals – and they achieved exactly that with a 2-1 home success over Fenerbahce Sports Club.
Fenerbahce struck first as Ece HARAC overcame Hengyu MA in four games, keeping the Turkish side’s hopes alive. However, Tania PLAIAN delivered a crucial response in a dramatic five-game battle against Sibel ALTINKAYA. The second game, claimed 18-16, proved pivotal in shifting momentum towards the Italian side.
With qualification within reach, Miriam CARNOVALE stepped up confidently. After dropping the second game, she regained control and closed out the match in four games to secure the decisive second point.
With victories in both legs, ASD Quattro Mori Cagliari progress to the Europe Cup Women semi-finals, continuing their impressive run in the competition.
“We are very happy with this victory. We had a difficult campaign in the Champions League and unfortunately we were relegated, but now we are taking things match by match. I hope we can go all the way and win the Cup again, like we did in 2023. For this tie, we were without our number one, Elizabet ABRAAMIAN, and we knew it would be tough without her. Hengyu MA struggled against Ece HARAC’s style of play and it was an emotional match. As for my match, I am especially happy because I am not in my best shape. I have been dealing with hip problems and I am still not fully recovered. I had to fight for every point, but I managed to play at a very good level. Sibel ALTINKAYA is a very strong and experienced player, so this win means a lot to me. In Miriam’s match, everything went according to plan. She followed the tactics perfectly and played very well. I am also very happy for her, as we are close friends. We are now looking forward to the next match and we will give our best,” said Tania PLAIAN.
SD Quattro Mori Cagliari – Fenerbahce Sports Club 2-1
- Hengyu MA – Ece HARAC 1-3 (10-12, 11-3, 4-11, 4-11)
- Tania PLAIAN – Sibel ALTINKAYA 3-2 (10-12, 18-16, 11-8, 6-11, 6-4)
- Miriam CARNOVALE – Gul Pembe OZKAYA 3-1 (11-3, 8-11, 11-3, 11-6)
Fenerbahce Sports Club – ASD Quattro Mori Cagliari 0–3
- Sibel ALTINKAYA – Hengyu MA 1-3 (9-11, 11-13, 11-4, 5-11)
- Ece HARAC – Elizabet ABRAAMIAN 0-3 (3-11, 6-11, 10-12)
- Gul Pembe OZKAYA – Miriam CARNOVALE 0-3 (4-11, 11-13, 4-11)
MIRÓ Ganxets Costa Durada beat STK Dr. Časl
MIRÓ Ganxets Costa Durada confirmed their place in the Europe Cup Women semifinals after edging Croatia’s STK Dr. Časl 3-2 in the second leg. Following their straight matches victory away from home two days earlier, the Spanish side needed just two points to secure progression, and they delivered.
The tie opened with Guo RUICHEN putting the hosts in front, overcoming Jiaqi LIU in four games with a confident display. However, experienced Xia Lian NI responded for the Croatian side, defeating Olga VOROBEVA in a tight encounter, highlighted by a dramatic 15-13 finish in the fourth game.
Andrea TODOROVIC restored the advantage for the Spanish team with a straight-games victory over Szandra PERGEL, bringing MIRÓ Ganxets Costa Durada within touching distance of qualification.
Although NI Xia Lian struck again, beating Guo RUICHEN to level the score at 2-2 on the day, the overall qualification was already secured thanks to the earlier points. The final match provided extra drama, as Olga VOROBEVA battled Jiaqi LIU in a five-game thriller to seal the 3-2 victory in front of the home crowd.
“The second leg was a bit more tense because Dr. Časl changed their lineup. They decided to put Ni Xia Lian against Olga VOROBEVA. Olga had her chances and could even have won the match, but Ni justified her status.
At 1-1, I managed to beat Szandra PERGEL, which was the second point we needed to secure our place in the semifinal. However, we continued playing and the fourth match was very close. Two days ago, Ruichen GUO defeated Ni 3-2, winning 6-4 in the deciding game, so this time Ni took her revenge.
One of the difficulties was that we started celebrating a bit early because we already knew we had qualified for the next round, and it was not easy to maintain full focus. I would also like to praise Olga VOROBEVA for her effort in the decisive match. She defeated the Chinese player Jiaqi LIU in the fifth game of the fifth match by the death point,”explained Andrea TODOROVIC.
With a 3-0 win in Zagreb and a 3-2 success at home, MIRÓ Ganxets Costa Durada advance confidently to the semifinals.
MIRÓ Ganxets Costa Durada – STK Dr. Časl 3-2
- Guo RUICHEN – Jiaqi LIU 3-1 (11-6, 8-11, 11-8, 11-3)
- Olga VOROBEVA – Xia Lian NI 1-3 (8-11, 11-7, 8-11, 13-15)
- Andrea TODOROVIC – Szandra PERGEL 3-0 (11-8, 11-6, 11-7)
- Guo RUICHEN – Xia Lian NI 1-3 (3-11, 11-9, 5-11, 9-11)
- Olga VOROBEVA – Jiaqi LIU 3-2 (6-11, 13-11, 11-9, 1-11, 6-5)
Opening leg
STK Dr. Časl – MIRÓ Ganxets Costa Durada 0-3
- Jiaqi LIU – Olga VOROBEVA 1-3 (10-12, 6-11, 13-11, 5-11)
- Xia Lian NI – Ruichen GUO 2-3 (11-7, 10–12, 14-16, 11-9, 4-6)
- Szandra PERGEL – Andrea TODOROVIC 1-3 (6-11, 11-7, 9-11, 4-11)
