Greenyard MAASEIK return to #CEVCupM semis for first time since 2021

On Wednesday night and before an impressive audience of some 2,400 fans, Greenyard MAASEIK of Belgium reached the semis of the men’s CEV Cup – doing so after recording two wins, both away from home and on their home ground as well, over Türkiye’s Galatasaray HDI ISTANBUL. Their next opponent in the semis will be Germany’s SVG LÜNEBURG. 

After a 3-2 success a week ago in Istanbul, Greenyard MAASEIK had to win by any score to secure their spot in the semi-finals. The home side recovered from a slow start and from losing the first set (21-25) to cruise to an emphatic 25-14 win in the second and they eventually sealed their spot among the top four of the competition after an even more impressive 25-12 scoreline in the third. The fourth set was a mere formality since the fate of this double header was decided already – and yet the two teams delivered a very close battle lasting up until the final 37-35 in favour of MAASEIK. With such a dominant performance in both the second and third sets, Greenyard had the top three scorers from the match – youngster Pierre Perin (22), Sil Meijs (19) and Antti Ronkainen (15). 

MAASEIK have reached the semis of the CEV Cup for the first time since they did it in 2021 – when they lost to Russia’s Zenit SAINT PETERSBURG at the Golden Set. They had previously finished third the last time a Final Four was contested in the CEV Cup – in 2010 and this was held at their very own home in Maaseik. Their next rival – SVG LÜNEBURG – is another contender that has moved to the CEV Cup – just like Galatasaray – after completion of the elite CEV Champions League Volley group phase earlier this year.