Champions League Women Stage 2: Quarter-finalists decided

Action in Groups A and D of the Champions League Women Stage 2 has been completed and the remaining matches in Groups B and C will be completed by the end of the week. The knockout stage starts in January 2025.

Group A: SAINT-QUENTIN TT and KTS ENEA SIARKOPOL TARNOBRZEG Safe quarter-final places

SAINT-QUENTIN TT secured their progression to the quarter-finals with a second win over Novi Sad. Camille LUTZ, Linda BERGSTRM and Polina MIKHAILOVA delivered strong performances, beating Tijana JOKIC, Aneta MAKSUTI and Sara RADAK. While MAKSUTI managed to push BERGSTRM to a decisive match, the latter ultimately emerged victorious in the battle at death's point.

We are very happy with reaching the quarter-finals. It was our goal in the group. It's been a tough few weeks, so we're happy to end our last race of the year with a win, said LUTZ.

Meanwhile, reigning champions and four-time winners KTS ENEA SIARKOPOL TARNOBRZEG completed Stage 2 with a perfect record, winning all four matches in the group.

Group B: ttc berlin eastside and METZ TT Advance

In Group B, ttc berlin eastside will face SKST Plus Hodonn on Sunday. However, with three wins already, the German club has secured a place in the quarter-finals, as have METZ TT, with two wins and two losses.

Group C: LINZ AG Froschberg makes history

Austria's LINZ AG Froschberg topped Group C and remained undefeated in Stage 2. They achieved their final victory against ASD QUATTRO MORI, but not without challenges. Liemei HU scored two victories for the Italian team, beating Ivana MALOBABIC and Britt EERLAND. However, Suthasini SAWETTABUT, Ivana and Britt all scored points to maintain their clean sheet record.

It is the first time in the club's history that we have passed this stage undefeated. I am so proud of the girls, said manager Gnther RENNER.

Britt EERLAND reflected on the team's performance:

We didn't expect to get through it this way. The clubs are very strong and we have had tough encounters and exciting duels. But we showed a high level of play, great team spirit and good communication with the coach. We felt like a team, supporting each other and constantly discussing tactics and improvements.

Even when we were down, we knew that with support we could come back. Today our coach changed our positions to help us win, which put extra pressure on me and SAWETTABUT. But as professionals we have to deal with that. In the end, I'm glad we made it through the challenge. It's nice to end the stage with good feelings and thoughts about the quarter-finals and Christmas.

One match remains in Group C. Saint-Denis 93 TT will host ASD QUATTRO MORI on Friday. In the opening match, the Italian team won 3-0.

Group D: UCAM Cartagena TM dominates and secures second place

UCAM Cartagena TM put in a dominant performance to defeat Hungary's Budarsi Sport Club and secure their spot in the quarter-finals. Fei QI, Maria XIAO and Sofia-Xuan ZHANG passed Dora MADARASZ, Helga DARI and Maria FAZEKAS without dropping a match.

Overall, with the team we had for each game, I think it has been a positive competition so far. Against Etival we didn't have our number one player, so it was even harder to beat them. We were lucky that she could play both matches against Budars and take us to the next stage, said Maria XIAO.

Last year's runner-up, France's Etival ASR TT, had already secured top spot in the group with a perfect record of four wins. From first place they advance to the quarter-finals.

Group A

Novi Sad – SAINT-QUENTIN TT

• Tijana JOKIC – Camille LUTZ 1-3 (11-9, 5-11, 7-11, 5-11)
• Aneta MAKSUTI – Linda BERGSTRM 2-3 (8-11, 11-9, 11-4, 4-11, 5-6)
• Sara RADAK – Polina MIKHAILOVA 0-3 (7-11, 4-11, 2-11)

Group C

• ASD QUATTRO MORI – LINZ AG Froschberg 2-3
• Liemei HU – Ivana MALOBABIC 3-0 (11-2, 11-4, 11-4)
• Tania PLAIAN – Britt EERLAND 1-3 (9-11, 11-6, 7-11, 3-11)
• Miriam CARNOVALE – Suthasini SAWETTABUT 1-3 (5-11, 7-11, 12-10, 9-11)
• Liemei HU – Britt EERLAND 3-0 (11-8, 11-9, 11-2)
• Tania PLAIAN-Ivana MALOBABIC 0-3 (8-11, 9-11, 6-11)

Group D

UCAM CartagenaTM – Budarsi Sports Club 3-0

• Fei QI – Dora MADARASZ 3-0 (11-9, 11-3, 11-6)
• Maria XIAO – Helga VAN 3-0 (11-6, 11-5, 11-6)
• Sofia-Xuan ZHANG – Maria FAZEKAS 3-0 (11-7, 11-6, 11-7)