Statement Starts as #CLVolleyM Returns: Lublin and Lube Sweep Opening Day
Recap
The CEV Champions League Volley | Men is back, and the opening day already delivered two great matches. In Pool B, Bogdanka LUK LUBLIN enjoyed a dream #CLVolleyM debut with a straight-sets 3-0 victory over Halkbank ANKARA, while in Pool E the Italian vice-champions Cucine LUBE CIVITANOVA marked a brilliant comeback to the competition, also winning 3-0, this time against MONTPELLIER HSC VB (FRA).
Pool B: Bogdanka LUK LUBLIN vs. Halkbank ANKARA 3-0 (25-20, 25-14, 25-13)
Bogdanka LUK Lublin announced their arrival on Europe's biggest stage with a commanding debut in the CEV Champions League Volley 2026 - Men. The Polish champions thrilled their home crowd at Hala Globus Tomasz Wójtowicz in Lublin, overpowering Halkbank Ankara in straight sets, led by standout performances from Kewin Sasak and Wilfredo Leon.
Bogdanka LUK Lublin made a remarkable breakthrough last season, earning their first-ever Polish championship title and winning the Challenge Cup in their debut campaign in a CEV European competition. Now they are entering Europe’s elite volleyball stage. In their historic Champions League debut in front of their home crowd, they faced Halkbank Ankara, the team that finished last year’s CLVolleyM season in fourth place.
At the beginning of the first group-stage match of the CEV Champions League Volley 2026 - Men, at Hala Globus Tomasz Wójtowicz in Lublin, the hosts -backed by vivid support from the crowd - set the tone early, making the block their powerful weapon and quickly taking a 3-0 lead thanks to the efforts of Wilfredo Leon and Marcin Komenda. Step by step, Halkbank managed to close the gap (7-6; 12-11), driven by several strong actions from veteran Tsvetan Sokolov (7 points in the first set) and Yoandy Leal. Both teams then entered a tight race for every point. An ace from Ulas Kiyak tied the score for the first time in the match at 14-14, and from that moment Halkbank attempted to take the initiative. However, their momentum was quickly stopped. An ace from Leon (5 points in the opener) sparked a strong run for Lublin from 17-17 to 20-17. Under pressure, Halkbank failed to maintain flawless play, which Lublin efficiently capitalized on, recording 74% success in attack in the first set. A powerful spike from Kewin Sasak, who scored 7 points in the opener (88% success), sealed the set at 25-20.
Strong kills from Sasak and an ace from Fynnian McCarthy once again allowed Lublin to open the set with a 3-0 lead. Halkbank attempted to chase Bogdanka, but powered by the outstanding Sasak–Leon duo, the hosts maintained a three-point advantage (10-7). Although the team from Ankara responded with two consecutive points, an ace from Marcin Komenda pushed Lublin ahead to 13-9. From that moment, the hosts began to dominate on the court, extending their lead even further with Leon (6 points in the second set) at the service line and a powerful blocking performance led by Aleks Grozdanov (3 blocks), securing an impressive 19-10 advantage. Meanwhile, Halkbank continued to struggle in reception, dropping to just 26%. With such a comfortable lead, Bogdanka confidently closed out the second set, highlighted by a decisive block from Leon and Daenan Gyimah on Marek Sotola. Remarkably, Lublin registered eight killing blocks in this set alone.
Although Ankara opened the set with a 2-0 lead, Lublin immediately responded with a streak of six consecutive points, surging ahead 6-2 thanks to powerful spikes and blocks from Sasak and Leon - both of whom finished the set with seven points each. Lublin played like a speeding machine, with service runs from Leon and Grozdanov extending the lead to 13-4 and leaving Ankara completely helpless. Coach Radostin Stoytchev used both time-outs, but they brought no improvement, as his team struggled to find any response to Lublin's dominance (16-5). The #CLVolleyM rookies continued to excel in every element. Leon delivered two consecutive aces to push the score to 23-11, before Jackson Young's spike sealed the set 25-13 and closed the match.
The MVP award went to the match's top scorer, Kewin Sasak, who delivered 19 points, including 2 blocks, 2 aces, and 15 kills at an impressive 75% success rate. Wilfredo Leon followed closely with 18 points, recording 4 aces, 3 blocks, and 11 kills at 65% efficiency. Aleks Grozdanov and Jackson Young each contributed 7 points. On Halkbank's side, Tsvetan Sokolov finished with 8 points, while Yoandy Leal and Matey Kaziyski added 7 and 6 respectively.
Overall, Lublin dominated in every element of the game, outclassing their rivals 13–3 in blocking and 12–3 in serving.
Kewin Sasak"I feel amazing. We've just won our first-ever Champions League match, and for us, that means a lot. We're happy that we not only started well but stayed true to our game plan throughout the entire match. It’s a great debut for our team. But this is only the beginning of the Champions League journey. We know tough opponents are ahead, so we need to keep working hard."
MVP and player of Bogdanka LUK Lublin
Pool E: Cucine Lube CIVITANOVA (ITA) vs. MONTPELLIER HSC VB (FRA) 3–0 (25–16, 25–17, 25–22)
For their 19th participation in the CEV Champions League Volley | Men, the Italian vice-champions Cucine Lube Civitanova returned to Europe with authority. In the club’s first-ever showdown with Montpellier HSC VB, who entered the competition thanks to one of the three wild cards, Lube were in complete control over what was happening on the court, seizing a 3-0 win.
The French side who are looking to improve on their previous participation, when they were eliminated in the group phase with one win and five defeats, travelled to Italy as runners-up in both the French League and Cup last season, and winners of the 2024/25 Super Cup, eager to test themselves again at the highest level. However, Lube turned out to be too strong on the opening day of the 2026 #CLVolleyM.
At the beginning of the match, the spectators at the Eurosuole Forum in Civitanova Marche rose to their feet to give a standing ovation to Greek referee Epaminondas Gerothodoros, who was officiating his final international match after an impressive 26-year career. Gerothodoros has been a key figure in many of the most important CEV and FIVB competitions, including the Olympic Games, and his farewell added a special emotional note to the evening.
The opening set was balanced in the very beginning at 2-2, after an ace by Etan Jeanlys from Montpellier, as both sides were still trying to establish their rhythm.
Aleksandar Nikolov then went to the service line and immediately showed his class, using smart solutions over the French block to help Lube move ahead to 5-3. Both teams committed some serve errors, but Lube stabilised more quickly, backing up their game with strong blocking and organised defence. That pushed the score to 8-3 and forced a first timeout for the visitors.
Mattia Boninfante added an ace for 10-4, while Montpellier struggled with a series of unforced errors. Lube’s defence won them the longer rallies, and they continued to widen the gap to 14-6, prompting another timeout for the French side.
Montpellier tried to react with sharper attacks, particularly through Matthias Delolme, but after a brief improvement an error on their side once again handed momentum back to Lube. The hosts did not let any more opportunities slip and closed out the set comfortably at 25-16, with Nikolov finishing in style with a powerful spike from the third metre against a single block.
The second set showed that nothing was over yet for the visitors from France, as Montpellier came out with more aggression and kept the score tight in the early stages. The scoreboard moved through 5-3, 5-4 and 8-7, with both teams exchanging points.
Montpellier raised their concentration, started to vary their attacking angles and were rewarded by levelling the score at 13-13. However, when the rallies opened up, Lube proved more clinical on counterattack, punishing the French side’s mistakes. With Mattia Bottolo at the serve line, they put together a 5–0 run that pushed them ahead 18-13.
Lube extended their lead to 22-16. Montpellier’s number 16 briefly stunned the home side with a sharp third-metre attack, but Nikolov replied immediately to restore a seven-point cushion at 23-16.
Lube stayed composed, found the right solutions and closed the set at 25-17, moving one step closer to the overall win.
The third set began with Lube leading 8-6, the home side working well in all fundamentals. Their block was again a key factor, forming a solid wall at the net, helping them move ahead to 14-10.
Montpellier showed resilience in defence and tried to stay in contention, but they never fully managed to turn the momentum. Ezequiel Palacios for Montpellier delivered several quality actions, while Haukea Mare scored with a powerful spike through the middle for 20-16, then cleverly exploited a gap in Lube’s defence to reduce the difference to 20-17.
A precise ace by Aleksandar Nikolov pushed the score to 22-17, before he followed it with a service error for 22-18. Montpellier’s Palacios responded again to bring it to 22-19, keeping the pressure on.
In a key moment, Lube’s Noa Duflos-Rossi, who was given a gametime by head coach Medei, delivered a sharp attack to earn the first match point at 24-20. Montpellier survived two consecutive match points and narrowed the gap to 24-22, prompting coach Medei to call a timeout. After the short break, Lube calmly finished the set at 25-22, sealing a 3-0 victory.
MVP - Aleksandar Nikolov
Vice world champion Aleksandar Nikolov was the standout performer of the match, finishing with 17 points and an outstanding 81% efficiency in attack.
Aleksandar Nikolov“I am very happy with this good start in the CLVolleyM, especially because we were coming off two consecutive defeats in the league. In this kind of competition, it is very important to start well, and we managed to do that. Of course, we know very well that there is still a long road ahead. My personal performance? I am pleased - I feel comfortable playing as an opposite, and I try to do my best in every match.”
MVP and player of Cucine Lube Civitanova
Loic Le Marrec“We knew it was going to be a very difficult match, and that’s exactly how it turned out. Civitanova put us under great pressure in every set with their servs and attacks; we were far from their level. That’s how it went tonight, but we still look to the rest of the competition with confidence.”
Coach of Montpellier HSCVB