SVG LÜNEBURG punch #CEVCupM Final ticket

There was a moment in Lüneburg when the match seemed decided, and yet, it was far from over.

SVG LÜNEBURG had already done what they came for. Two sets secured, the Final confirmed, history written. But what followed turned into something else entirely: a battle of pride, depth, and resilience that stretched deep into the fifth set and kept the crowd on edge until the very last point.

In the end, it was Lüneburg who held their nerve, edging Greenyard MAASEIK 3–2 in a dramatic semifinal clash to book their place in the #CEVCupM Final.

Semi Finals | SVG LÜNEBURG (GER) vs Greenyard MAASEIK (BEL) 3-2 (27-25, 28-26, 23-25, 23-25, 16-14)

The opening two sets already hinted at the kind of night it would be. Long rallies, razor-thin margins, and no room for error. Lüneburg showed composure in the key moments, taking both sets in extended play 27-25 and 28-26 with Ethan Champlin and Daniel Gruvaeus leading the charge.

Those two sets were enough.

Final secured.

But instead of the match fading away, it reignited.

With qualification guaranteed, Lüneburg’s coaching staff turned to the bench, giving opportunities to players who had seen limited court time. Greenyard MAASEIK responded in kind. Yet, rather than slowing the pace, the changes brought fresh energy and the fight only intensified.

Maaseik, refusing to leave quietly, pushed back. Led by Eliot De Vleeschhauwer and Pierre Perin, they took the third and fourth sets (25-23, 25-23), levelling the match and turning it into a full five-set showdown despite the stakes no longer affecting qualification.

What followed was a decider that perfectly reflected the night: tight, tense, and unpredictable.

Lüneburg regained their edge early, but Maaseik stayed close throughout. Point by point, the teams traded blows until the hosts finally broke through at 16-14, sealing both the match and a memorable night in front of their home fans.

MVP Ethan Champlin played a key role in Lüneburg’s success, delivering an all-around performance and guiding his team through both the crucial early sets and the decisive moments. He was supported by Gruvaeus (12 points) and Christopher Byam (13), while Lüneburg showed strong balance across their lineup.

For Greenyard MAASEIK, De Vleeschhauwer led all scorers with 19 points, while Perin added 18, as the Belgian side pushed the hosts to the limit in a match that went well beyond its original script.

In the end, Lüneburg got what they came for, a place in the final.

But they also got something more: a reminder that even when the job is done, the fight can still deliver something special.

Stefan Hübner, head coach of SVG Lüneburg: “An incredible performance! Both teams played very well at a high level. We were given the chance and we took it. But it was incredibly close – huge credit to the team for keeping their cool and seeing it through. Now the lads are raring to go to Italy …”

Cole Young, player of SVG Lüneburg: “We expected Maaseik to come out really strong and make it tough. They definitely gave us a bigger battle today than they did at their place. They knew it was Do or Die for them. Stefan [Hübner] really helped us to stay confident, ready for the pressure and we handled it. Kudos to the guys passing because there was some really great serving going on and they made it a lot easier for the middles to play well by passing good. Being in the second final honestly feels pretty surreal. I feel pretty lucky. I know that doesn’t happen pretty often and is a new thing for the club. So im blessed to be here alongside these players and coaches. Hopefully we can close it out and win in the finals, too.”

Sil Meijs, player of Greenyard Maaseik: “For us it’s a pity, for sure. As a sportsman being this close to reaching a European final it’s a pity to end the European journey here. This was our last chance. If I look back now at both games, we were not good enough. We couldn’t finish our opportunities and chances - we had those! It’s also the quality of Lüneburg - they finished the important chances. But we can be really proud as a young team that started from nothing with eleven new players. We knocked out five opponents in Europe - and not the worst. This is something we can be proud of.”