TRENTINO, BR Volleys off to flying start in #CLVolleyM
Recap
TRENTINO Itas and BERLIN Recycling Volleys caught a formidable start to their #CLVolleyM campaign as they cruised to comprehensive 3-0 victories in their respective home matchups with ACH Volley LJUBLJANA and Guaguas LAS PALMAS. The competition now takes a break for the holiday season and will resume in early January with Leg 2.
Pool A: TRENTINO Itas (ITA) vs. ACH Volley LJUBLJANA (SLO) 3-0 (25-23, 25-23, 25-21)
The final match of the 2026 CEV Champions League for this calendar year featured four-time champions TRENTINO Itas and ACH Volley LJUBLJANA. Every time these two teams have shared a group, TRENTINO went on to lift the trophy - and the Italian powerhouse once again confirmed their dominance.
Playing their first Champions League match since their triumphant 2023/2024 campaign, TRENTINO Itas delivered a composed, controlled performance to secure their sixth win in six head-to-head meetings with the Slovenian side.
After a balanced opening, the hosts broke away with a strong serving run from Alessandro Michieletto and solid defensive play, turning 3-3 into a commanding 10-3 lead. ACH Volley briefly narrowed the gap to 12-7, and again at 16-12 through middle-blocker Janž Janez Kržič, but the home team stayed firmly in control. Théo Faure pushed the lead to 21-15, yet ACH fought back to 23-21. A service error by Tonček Štern gave TRENTINO triple set point, and they converted the third for 25-23.
Jordi Ramon Ferragut led TRENTINO in the first set with six points (including one ace, 56% attack), Michieletto added five (two aces, 75% attack), while Faure chipped in five too. For ACH Volley, Alen Pajenk scored four times, hitting at 67% and recording two blocks.
ACH Volley opened the second set better, leading 5-3, until TRENTINO levelled at 7-7 and took control again at 12-9 following a Faure ace. The Slovenian champions stayed close throughout, but Michieletto struck a key ace for 20-17. Ferragut fired another ace to bring TRENTINO to 24-20, yet ACH forced both timeouts from coach Marcelo Mendez by cutting the gap to 24-23. A missed counterattack from Luka Marovt handed TRENTINO he set, 25-23, and a 2-0 lead.
Michieletto shined with eight points in the second set (one ace, 43% perfect reception, 70% attack), while Tonček Štern led ACH with seven points at an impressive 78% efficiency.
TRENTINO controlled the scoreboard early in the third set, though ACH refused to let them pull away. From 6-4 to 8-8, the battle remained tight. ACH even grabbed a late lead at 18-17, but the hosts responded immediately, turning it around to 23-21. As in the first two sets, Trentino reached 24-21 - and this time Michieletto sealed the deal with an ace for 25-21 and a clean 3-0 sweep.
Alessandro Michieletto was named MVP, delivering a standout performance with 21 points, four aces, one block, 45% positive reception and 62% attack efficiency.
Alessandro Michieletto“We are happy to have started with a 3-0 victory in this pool, because it definitely wasn’t for granted. We managed to play well, especially at the beginning and the end of every set, bringing home three points and a victory that will be invaluable also for the upcoming Italian championship match on Sunday.”
Player of TRENTINO Itas, MVP of the Match
Marcelo Mendez“It is an important result because ACH Volley is a good-level and quality team and they came to Trento today determined to use their chances all the way. We only played well in stretches, but we achieved the victory we wanted to start our journey in the right way.”
Head coach of TRENTINO Itas
Tine Urnaut“There was a great difference on the serve. TRENTINO served really well; we did it only for a few moments. There is much room for improvement and we need to work on many fundamentals, but especially add pressure on the serve.”
Player of ACH Volley LJUBLJANA
Luka Marovt“It was a tough night. I think Trentino played a very high-level game, especially in the most crucial moments.”
Player of ACH Volley LJUBLJANA
Pool C: BERLIN Recycling Volleys (GER) vs. Guaguas LAS PALMAS (ESP) 3-0 (25-20, 29-27, 25-17)
In a packed Max-Schmeling-Halle, BERLIN Recycling Volleys delivered a strong and confident performance to claim a straight-sets win over Guaguas LAS PALMAS and open their Pool C campaign on the right foot. The Berlin crowd made themselves heard from the very first rally, and the home side fed off that energy in what was their final Champions League appearance before the Christmas break.
Both sides opened the match with intensity, trading long rallies and going point-for-point through much of the first two sets. It was the kind of exchange where you genuinely could not predict which side would pull ahead, one BERLIN, one LAS PALMAS, step by step, until the decisive moments. The home side found a late surge in the first set closing it at 25-20, but the real turning point came in the second. The Spaniards fought relentlessly, pushed the hosts deep into extra points, and forced the BR Volleys to stay patient through extended defensive sequences. The 29-27 finish ultimately gave the German champions a two-set cushion and shifted the momentum firmly their way.
With confidence restored and the crowd fully behind them, BERLIN tightened their block-defence system in the third set. Their serving pressure opened more opportunities, and they closed the match 25-17, sealing a straight-sets victory that was anything but straightforward.
Jake Hanes led all scorers with 22 points, while Francisco Wallyson Bezerra Souza contributed 12 for Guaguas. But the spotlight belonged to the MVP, Fedor Ivanov, whose stability in reception and all-around control helped BERLIN manage the toughest phases of the match.
Despite the 3-0 scoreline, Guaguas LAS PALMAS never stopped pushing, thereby showing the same fighting spirit that brought them through three early rounds with six straight wins. BERLIN, meanwhile, closed out the year with a confident home performance. The Champions League now pauses for the Christmas break, with both sides returning to action in January as the race for the Playoffs and quarter-finals intensifies.
Fedor Ivanov (BERLIN Recycling Volleys)“There was a great atmosphere. The nearly 5,000 fans gave me and the team a great feeling and that pushed us on. It was a very important game and a nice win to start with. The MVP title gives me confidence, but that's secondary; the team performance was much more important. Jake played really well, but Ruben was also important for the team.”
MVP of the match
Moritz Reichert"The victory was important, of course, but what makes me happy is that we probably delivered our best team performance in this important game. Guaguas today had problems with their serve. However, such an experienced team can always come back, so we had to remain vigilant. As good as the success was, it doesn't mean much for the group yet. I think it's now well known in Europe that the long trip to Las Palmas will be a completely different story. But today we can rightly be happy."
Outside Hitter of BERLIN Recycling Volleys