In Azerbaijan, Seppe Baetens and Murov Baku continue to impress with eight matches and eight 3-0 victories.

In Denmark, coach Dries Hoeyberghs won a bronze medal in the national cup with Nordenskov after a 3-2 victory against Elite. The question remains whether more was possible in a Final Four where all matches ended in a tiebreak: Odense defeated Elite, and Gentofte overcame Nordenskov in the semi-finals. The final also went to a tiebreak, with Odense winning against Gentofte.

A bad day in Italy for Taranto, the team of Wout D’Heer (6 points – 50% - 3 blocks), losing 3-0 to Perugia. However, they are no longer alone at the bottom of the standings, as Monza joined them after a 3-1 win over Padova, while direct rival Grottazzolina caused an upset by defeating Milan 3-2, despite 22 points (49%) and 3 blocks from Ferre Reggers.

In Poland, no trouble for Zawiercie: 0-3 at Gorzow (Mathijs Desmet 6 points, 12%), while Kedzierzyn almost blew a 2-0 lead against Lublin, but Igor Grobelny (19 points – 42%) and his teammates saved the match in the tiebreak (15-11).

In Russia, Sam Deroo and his Zenit Kazan team once again won the top match against direct rival Zenit St. Petersburg 3-1. Kazan now holds an 11-point lead over Lokomotiv, 12 over Belgorod, and 13 over St. Petersburg and Dinamo Moscow.

In Germany, Düren (coach Christophe Achten and Robbe Van de Velde 2 points, 29%) lost 0-3 to Friedrichshafen. Berlin, meanwhile, won 0-3 at Bitterfeld thanks to 9 points from Simon Plaskie (40%).

After a tough European week, Spanish leader Guaguas fell 3-1 to Soria, despite 14 points (48%) from Tomas Rousseaux. Guaguas still holds a five-point lead over Soria and Leleman in the standings.

In the Netherlands, the four participants for the BeNe Conference are confirmed: Lycurgus Groningen, Orion Stars Doetinchem, Draisma Dyn Apeldoorn, and Huizen. The first scheduled matches:
14/02: Menen – Orion, Huizen – Achel, Draisma – Roeselare
15/02: Aalst – Lycurgus
22/02: Lycurgus – Menen, Achel – Orion, Draisma – Aalst, Roeselare – Huizen.

Six blocks for Anna Koulberg

In Italy, an unexpected 0-3 home defeat for Scandicci against Vallefoglia. Britt Herbots scored 5 points (29%) and handled 25% perfect receptions. Novara taught Busto Arsizio (Silke Van Avermaet 4 points – 38%) a lesson: 3-0. Milan (Laura Heyrman 4 points – 50%) also delivered a heavy blow to Talmassons: 25-19, 25-15, 25-10.

In Japan, a double 0-3 victory for Osaka and Lise Van Hecke (9 points at 37% and 11 points at 52%, respectively). These matches against Hisamitsu were watched by 3,021 spectators. Loss (0-3) for Queenseis (Kaja Grobelna 14 points – 38%) against Ishikawa, but the next day, a 3-1 victory (Kaja with 23 points – 43%).

In Poland, a win for Rzeszow (3-1) against GB Lodz (without Sobolska).

In Germany, a strong performance from Anna Koulberg (10 points – 33% and 6 blocks!), contributing to Potsdam’s 1-3 win against Aachen. Another impressive performance from Nathalie Lemmens (10 points – 88% !) with Dresden, defeating Erfurt 3-0. Sühl (Lara Nagels 1) also claimed victory against Münster, 3-1.

In France, a 3-0 win for Venelles (without Rampelberg) against Béziers.

In Greece, PAOK Thessaloniki (Ilka Van de Vyver 5 points – 20% - 3 aces) kept it tight against Panionios and won only 18-16 in the tiebreak.