In focus: #CLVolleyM Newcomers and returns to the competition

There are only a few days left until the start of the 4th Round of the men's Champions League, this time we will talk about newcomers to the tournament and those who returned to the best club championship after the break.

Olympiacos Piraeus - Pool A

Olympiacos Piraeus is a renowned name in Greek sports, and it’s great to see that name back in the Champions League pool stage lineup for the first time since 2015. After winning its 31st national title earlier this year, Olympiacos earned the right to play in the Champions League for the 13th time. However, they had to start from the early stages of the competition. The team won all five of its matches in the first two rounds of the tournament, paving its way to the pool stage. The club’s rich history includes a Champions League silver in 2002, a European Champions Cup silver, and an FIVB Club World Championship bronze in 1992, a Cup Winners’ Cup crown in 1996, a Top Teams Cup trophy in 2005, and, most recently, last season’s CEV Challenge Cup 2023 title. The team from Piraeus is enjoying an impeccable season in the Greek league, currently topping the standings undefeated in three matches with nine points. Among the squad’s prominent stars are Alen Pajenk, Toncek Stern, Mitar Tsourits, Dragan Travica, and Salvador Hidalgo Oliva.

Asseco Resovia Rzeszow - Pool B

Poland’s Asseco Resovia Rzeszow returns to the Champions League for the first time since the 2016-2017 season, marking its seventh appearance in Europe’s top club competition. The team qualified for this season’s edition as PlusLiga 2023 bronze medalists. Resovia’s best Champions League result was the silver medal earned in 2015. It was the second time the club secured Europe’s second place after finishing runner-up in the 1973 European Champions Cup. The Rzeszow team has never won any European Cups but reached the CEV Cup final in 2012. Domestically, Asseco has collected seven national titles so far. The current season’s stellar lineup, featuring Fabian Drzyzga, Jakub Kochanowski, Karol Klos, Klemen Cebulj, Pawel Zatorski, Stephen Boyer, Torey DeFalco, and Yacine Louati, is currently sixth in the PlusLiga with a 3-2 record and 8 points.

Gas Sales Daiko Piacenza - Pool C

Italy’s Gas Sales Daiko Piacenza represents a young club, founded in 2018, and is about to make its Champions League debut. The team secured its spot for its first appearance by winning the 2022-2023 Italian national cup, its inaugural national trophy. Last season, Gas Sales competed in the CEV Cup, reaching the semifinals, where it was eliminated by Belgium’s Knack Roeselare in a golden set. The club’s talented squad comprises setter Antoine Brizard, opposite Yuri Romano, outside hitters Ricardo Lucarelli and Yoandy Leal, and middle blocker Robertlandy Simon, among others, making Gas Sales a favorite in this pool. The Wolves are currently fourth in the Italian SuperLega with a 3-1 win-loss record and 9 points.

Jihostroj ČESKÉ BUDĚJOVICE - Pool D

The Czech Republic club last participated in the Champions League in the 2019-2020 season. In its history, the team's greatest success on the international stage was in the 1997/98 season when, under Milan Jacques' leadership, it reached the Final Four of the CEV Cup.

Ahead of the coming season, administrative delays in issuing resident visas slowed down the arrival of the new Jihostroj station wagon in the Czech Republic. However, these lengthy processes were successfully completed, and Alejandro Miguel Gonzalez Rodriguez, standing at 208 centimeters tall, has already joined the team.

The blocking trio is also ready. The Czech-Slovak duo Sedlacek-Ondrovic will be joined by 26-year-old Sam Taylor-Parks from Canada. The sturdy 203cm-tall shot-stopper got a taste of Ceske Budejovice during last year's CEV Cup, playing with the Schonenwerd jersey, with which he won the Swiss league title at the end of the season.

A month before the start of the 2023/24 season, Yikhostroy also introduced a new team captain. Polish coach Andrzej Kowal chose Eduardo Carisio as the leader of the newly formed team, who will become the first foreign captain in the club's history.

The team was also strengthened by Kaloyan Balabanov, who came to Jihostroj from the team of the recent champion of the Bulgarian top league, “Neftokhimik Burgas”. Balabanov was one of the team's mainstays on the way to the title and was named MVP of the fifth final match.

Twenty-seven-year-old setter Ignacio Luengas is expected to be one of the main pillars of the team. Jihostroy lured the 204-centimeter Argentinean from the Spanish Super League, where he was one of the most productive players. Luengas will form a strong duet with Kaloyan Balabanov.

SVG LÜNEBURG - Pool D

SVG Lüneburg, based in Lüneburg, Germany, was founded in 2003 and has since become one of the most successful volleyball teams in the Bundesliga. Over the years, SVG Lüneburg has won several titles and awards, including the German Cup in 2015 and the German Super Cup in 2016. After gaining international experience in the CEV Cup over the past two seasons, SVG Lüneburg is now competing in the Champions League for the first time in 2023/24.

Outside spiker Jesse William Elser recently joined the team. He is an outside attacker by nature and is expected to fill this position at SVG Lüneburg. Coach Stefan Hübner describes him as a complete volleyball player with great game intelligence. Jesse Elser comes from Trinity Western University (TWU) in Langley, Canada.

Another newcomer is middle blocker Matthew Knigge from the USA. Knigge gained international experience with VC Guaguas Gran Canaria, participating in the Challenge Cup last season and the CEV Cup in the previous season, with the quarterfinals against the eventual cup winner Monza being the end of their journey.

Another addition to the team is middle blocker Blake Leeson from the USA. In the penultimate season, he had a strong performance during his guest appearance in the LKH Arena. His impact was evident, even seven weeks earlier in the first leg, making life difficult for SVG.

The team's new setter, Maxwell Elgert, played in the 1st Polish league for BKS Bydgoszcz last season, a level below the renowned PlusLiga.

The latest addition to the team is outside spiker Erik Röhrs. Despite being only 22 years old, he brings significant experience. Röhrs had shown promise early on, captaining the U18 selection that secured Germany's first European title in that age group in 2018.

Guaguas LAS PALMAS - Pool D

Guaguas Las Palmas is the only Spanish representative in this season's Men’s Champions League. This marks the club's maiden season in the CEV Champions League Men, a huge challenge for the Spanish team. The team recently claimed their third title in the Spanish Supercup, adding to their accolades since their return to the highest level of domestic competition.

This new season represents a significant challenge as the club defends its title as champion of the Men's Super League and enters the Champions League as a newcomer. Head coach Sergio Miguel Camarero leads a rejuvenated group that includes nine new additions, four renewals, and a reinforcement in the physical area with Rubén Carreño.

Among the team's newcomers are Nico Bruno, Maxi Cavana, Manu Furtado, Jean Pascal Diedhiou, Unai Larrañaga, Graham Vigrass, Juan Pablo Moreno, Wallyson Becerra, and Ezequiel López.

VK Lvi PRAHA - Pool E

VK Lvi Praha sensationally clinched the Czech Republic Championship last season, earning their ticket to the Champions League. Founded in 2005, this marked the team’s first gold in its history, setting the stage for a challenging fight for the playoffs in the Champions League. Presently, Lvi is leading their country's championship.

The reigning volleyball champions, Lvi Praha, boast a well-occupied outside spiker position. Alongside domestic talents Daniel Čech and Jan Vodička, Cuban star Luis Estrada and 23-year-old Danish representative Oskar Madsen have joined the roster. Madsen spent three years in Toulouse, with his last season in Romanian Galati where he celebrated a title. He also played at the European Championship in the national team jersey against the Czech national team alongside Lvi mainstays Jakub Janouch and Milan Moník.

Greenyard MAASEIK - Pool E

Greenyard MAASEIK from Belgium secured the CEV Cup silver medal in the 2007-2008 season. Their previous participation in the Champions League was in the 2021-2022 season, where they ended up last in Pool B, failing to qualify further. Last season, they finished second in the national league and as a quarterfinalist in the CEV Cup. With aspirations to claim the top spot, the team is eyeing success, just as they achieved in 2018 and 2019.

Under Italian head coach Fulvio Mertini's guidance, the squad possesses a blend of experienced players and young talents. The team includes Belgian opposite Jolan Cox, middle blocker Elias Thys, and libero Martin Perin. Renet Vanker from Estonia continues to contribute in the setter position, alongside newcomer Dutch Joris Berkhout. Czech Adam Bartos remains a key outside hitter along with promising players like Francisco Iribarne, Tino Hanzic, and Nazar Hetman. Additionally, Czech Josef Polak joins as a middle blocker.