Bogdanka Lublin defeated Lille 3:1 in the first 1/8 final of the Challenge Cup. The Lublin team dealt with the French team as expected. Despite a slight false start, they corrected their mistakes and finished the match in four sets. Thanks to this, Massimo Botti's players are in a better position before the away rematch, which will decide who will advance to the 1/4 finals of the tournament.

The beginning of the match was even. On Bogdanka's side, Kevin Sasak started well. After his attack, coach Botti's proteges took a 6:4 lead. After attacks by Leon and Tuinstra, the score became 8:5, but the opponents quickly equalized thanks to their serve. The game continued point for point, but there were many errors in the Polish team's play. Unsuccessful actions by Sasak and Tuinstra led to a score of 14:12 in favor of the French team. Nevertheless, Sasak and Wilfredo Leon took matters into their own hands and allowed the hosts to regain their lead (19:17).

At 20:20, Kukartsev equalized with a serve, signaling his teammates to fight. Tourcoing Lille Métropole dominated the final part, and the well-known PlusLiga player Martinez Franchi excelled in attack.
In the remaining three sets, there was only one team on the court - the hosts, who closed the match in 110 minutes.

Alex Grozdanov had a good match, finishing with 8 points (67% in attack). For the winners, Wilfredo Leon finished with the most points - 15 points (an ace, 2 blocks). The most prolific scorer for the visitors was Argentine national Pablo Kukartsev, who recorded an impressive 23 points (2 aces, 3 blocks), but they were not enough for more than a set active.
The MVP of the match was the hosts' libero Thales Hoss.

BOGDANKA LUK Lublin - Tourcoing Lille Métropole 3:1

(21:25, 25:18, 25:19, 25:16)

Bogdanka: Kooy (4), Tuinstra (5), Grozdanov (8), Sasak (12), Leon (15), McCarthy (10), Hoss (libero) and Sawicki (8), Cirek and Malinowski (4)

Lille: Tizi-Oualou (5), Martinez Franchi (6), Parkinson (3), Kukartsev (23), Luengas (8), Rohr (9), Loubeir (libero) and Lavigne, Hutcheson (3) and Harou