LUXEMBOURG, 14 February 2002, With only eight teams left in both the men's and women's Indesit European Champions' League the tournament got really started. During the first leg of the quarterfinal round there were a lot of surprises. Teams that were thinking to book a simple home victory got robbed by the away team. This is something what really makes the Indesit European Champions' League the world's best club competition.

The biggest upset in the quarterfinal round of the men's Indesit European Champions' League was the away victory of Noliko Maaseik (BEL) over Lube Banca Macerata (ITA). In Italy, the many times Belgian champion was two sets behind before bouncing back against the strong Italian team and clinch the match in five sets. One of the interesting elements of this line-up was the presence of Belgian and former Noliko Maaseik player Wout Wijsmans on the Lube Banca Macerata side. When the Belgian formation of the Swedish head-coach Anders Kristiansson was back into business, Noliko Maaseik was unstoppable. Belgian's best still has to win the away clash in the small town of Bree next week to claim a Final Four spot.

One other upset was the win of Greek champion Olympiakos Pireaus over Luzhniki Moscow (RUS). The first time Russian champion was the surprising winner of Pool D of the preliminary round of the Indesit European Champions' League, kicking many times champion Sisley Treviso (ITA) out of the event. In the Russian capital, Olympiakos defeated Luzhniki Moscow in straight sets, which means that Olympiakos Pireaus only needs one set next week to proceed to the Final Four.

It would be no surprise if the second Greek team participating in the Indesit European Champions' League will join the Greek champion. Irakilis Thessaloniki, winner of Pool A, jumped over Tours VB (FRA) in straight sets. In the fourth quarterfinal line-up, VfB Friedrichshafen (GER) defeated Polish champion Mostostal-Azoty Kedzierzyn 3-1.

In the women's Indesit European Champions' League, the all Turkish battle between Günes Vakifbank Istanbul and Eczacibasi Istanbul went into a fifth set tiebreaker. At the end of this spectacular match it was Günes Vakifbank Istanbul that won the clash, but everything is still open next week.

Spanish champion Marichal Airtel Tenerife was responsible for a major upset, defeating favourite Uralochka Ekaterinburg (RUS) in straight sets. In the other two quarterfinal matches, Foppapedretti Bergamo (ITA) clinched an easy victory over Constr. Damesa Burgos (3-0), while Nafta-Gaz Pila (POL) was just stronger than French champion RC Cannes (3-2).

The second day of the quarterfinals of Indesit European Champions' League is scheduled for Wednesday 20 February (+/- 1 day). The winners will proceed to the Final Four. The women's Indesit European Champions' League Final Four will be played in Istanbul (TUR) on 15/16 March. The Final Four of the men's Indesit European Champion's League will be played in the weekend of 22/23 March. The site of this event will be announced at the latest this Friday.

Results: Men's Indesit European Champions' League: VfB Friedrichshafen (GER) - Mostostal Azoty Kedzierzyn (POL) 3-1 (30-32, 25-23, 28-26, 25-22). Luzhniki Moscow (RUS) - Olympiakos Piraeus (GRE) 0-3 (23-25, 23-25, 24-26). Lube Banca Macerata (ITA) - Noliko Maaseik (BEL) 2-3 (25-17, 25-22, 21-25, 22-25, 14-16). Iraklis Thessaloniki (GRE) - Tours VB (FRA) 3-0 (25-21, 25-17, 25-22).

Women's Indesit European Champions' League: Uralochka Ekaterinburg (RUS) - Marichal Airtel Tenerife (ESP) 0-3 (23-25, 23-25, 22-25). Nafta-Gaz Pila (POL) - RC Cannes (FRA) 3-2 (28-26, 25-19, 17-25, 8-25, 17-15). Gunes Vakifbank Istanbul (TUR) - Eczacibasi Istanbul (TUR) 3-2 (25-16, 20-25, 25-22, 16-25, 17-15). Foppapedretti Bergamo (ITA) - Constr. Damesa Burgos (ESP) 3-0 (25-15, 28-26, 25-16).