Perugia Edge Civitanova in Five Sets, Warszawa Impress in Poland

The men’s club volleyball season continued with intensity this weekend as #CLVolleyM contenders delivered high-level clashes across Europe. In both Italy and Poland, the continent’s top teams faced off in early-season battles, with Perugia surviving a fierce five-set fight against Civitanova, while Warszawa produced a dominant display to defeat Zawiercie in straight sets. Elsewhere, the remaining European heavyweights largely stayed on track with victories, though Berlin Recycling Volleys suffered another setback in Germany.

The most anticipated match of the weekend came from Italy’s SuperLega, where reigning CEV Champions League Volley title holders Sir Sicoma Monini Perugia and domestic rivals Cucine Lube Civitanova met in a classic. The tension was palpable from the opening serve, with both sides exchanging blows through four fiercely contested sets. Ultimately, the match went to a decisive tie-break, where Perugia, backed by their passionate home crowd, held firm to clinch a hard-earned 3-2 victory (25-15, 22-25, 25-20, 23-25, 15-11) and remain unbeaten after two rounds.

Under the leadership of setter Simone Giannelli, Perugia showcased remarkable balance in attack, finishing with four players in double digits. Wassim Ben Tara led the scoring with 19 points, followed by Agustín Loser with 14, while consistent team play proved crucial to overcoming their rivals. On the other side, Aleksandar Nikolov shined for Lube with 21 points, though his efforts weren’t enough to prevent defeat. Meanwhile, another Italian #CLVolleyM participant Itas Trentino continued its flawless start, recording another straight-sets victory to take early control at the top of the standings.

In Poland, fans were treated to another #CLVolleyM showdown as PGE Projekt Warszawa hosted Aluron CMC Warta Zawiercie in the PlusLiga’s second round. Warszawa put on a commanding performance from start to finish, allowing their opponents little opportunity to build momentum. The capital side triumphed 3-0 (25-20, 25-23, 25-19) to remain unbeaten. German opposite Linus Weber starred with 17 points, earning the MVP award, while Bartosz Bednorz added 14 in support. For Zawiercie, Bartłomiej Bołądź led the scoring with 15 points, but his efforts weren’t enough to trouble Warszawa’s cohesion. The other Polish #CLVolleyM teams — Bogdanka Luk Lublin and Asseco Resovia Rzeszów — also secured wins, though both needed five sets to edge past their opponents.

Things continue to look grim for Berlin Recycling Volleys, who suffered a second consecutive defeat in the German Bundesliga. After their surprising straight-set loss in the opener, the reigning champions fell again, this time to SWD powervolleys Düren, losing 3-2 after another closely contested match. Meanwhile, in Türkiye and Belgium, the #CLVolleyM clubs all claimed victories, reinforcing their status as early-season favorites in their respective domestic competitions.

With dramatic tie-breaks, high-intensity rivalries, and statements of dominance, this weekend underscored why Europe’s #CLVolleyM clubs remain the standard-bearers for world volleyball — and with form building quickly, the stage is already being set for another electric continental season ahead.