Perugia crowned back-to-back #CLVolleyM champions

Sir Sicoma Monini Perugia did it again. Guided by coach Angelo Lorenzetti, the Italian side triumphed at the Inalpi Arena in Torino to claim a second consecutive #CLVolleyM title, completing an unbeaten run through the CEV Champions League Volley 2026 Men’s Final Four without dropping a single set. Just like last year, Perugia defeated Aluron CMC Warta Zawiercie in the final, although this time only the opening set produced a dramatic battle before the Italian champions took full control of the match in the following two sets. Wassim Ben Tara once again led the way for Perugia with 24 points.

In the last dance of his remarkable career, Massimo Colaci not only lifted his third #CLVolleyM trophy, but was also named MVP of the CEV Champions League Volley 2026 - Men’s Final Four in Torino.

Gold medal match: Sir Sicoma Monini PERUGIA - Aluron CMC Warta ZAWIERCIE 3-0 (29-27, 25-18, 25-15)

Just like last year in Łódź, Sir Sicoma Monini Perugia and Aluron CMC Warta Zawiercie faced each other once again in the #CLVolleyM final, this time at the Inalpi Arena in Turin. Twelve months earlier, the Italian side had needed five sets to claim the club’s maiden European title, so expectations ahead of this rematch were once again extremely high. Perugia had the opportunity to become only the second Italian club after Trentino Volley to defend the #CLVolleyM title, with Trentino having famously won three consecutive trophies. Zawiercie, meanwhile, were chasing the first European title in the club’s history. The final also carried significant meaning for both coaches. Michał Winiarski, who previously lifted the trophy as a player with Trentino, had the chance to become the first Polish head coach to win the Champions League title. On the opposite bench, Angelo Lorenzetti reached his sixth Champions League final, becoming only the second coach in history to achieve that feat after Vladimir Alekno, who led his teams to seven finals.

The clash between the Italian and Polish champions delivered high-level volleyball from the very beginning, with both teams battling intensely for every point. Although Sir Sicoma Monini Perugia briefly moved ahead by two points at 9-7, Aluron CMC Warta Zawiercie responded immediately and the teams stayed neck and neck through the entire set (15-15, 23-23). Wassim Ben Tara and Oleh Plotnytskyi led Perugia’s offence with 7 points each in the opener, while Mateusz Bieniek and Aaron Russell paced Zawiercie with 6 and 5 points respectively. Both sides were highly effective in reception and attack, making it difficult for either team to create any significant advantage. After a spike from Plotnytskyi gave Perugia a set point at 24-23, Zawiercie responded through Jurii Gladyr to stay alive. The Polish side also saved a second set point and even earned their own opportunity at 27-26 following an attack from Russell, but they were unable to convert it. In the end, Perugia edged the dramatic set 29-27, with Simone Giannelli finishing the battle with a clever attack off an overpass ball.

The defending champions carried their momentum into the second set with another strong start. A block from Wassim Ben Tara followed by an ace from Agustín Loser helped Sir Sicoma Monini Perugia move ahead 5-2, before extending the advantage further to 10-5. The team coached by Angelo Lorenzetti took full control from that point on, dominating in every aspect of the game and building a commanding 20-13 lead. Ben Tara once again led the way with 7 points in the set, while Kamil Semeniuk and Roberto Russo each added 4. Perugia eventually closed the set 25-18, moving to within one set of a second consecutive #CLVolleyM title.

The match was far from over, however, as Aluron CMC Warta Zawiercie knew the third set was a do-or-die situation and started strongly with a 4-1 lead. Captain Mateusz Bieniek led the way early, scoring both in attack and with the block. Sir Sicoma Monini Perugia quickly recovered, though, and began to regain control through successful attacks from Roberto Russo and Oleh Plotnytskyi. Then came the decisive moment of the match: three consecutive aces from Wassim Ben Tara sparked a remarkable nine-point run and pushed Perugia into a commanding 10-4 lead. Coach Michał Winiarski used both of his time-outs in an attempt to stop the momentum, but Perugia maintained their rhythm and continued to dominate at 13-6, with Ben Tara proving virtually unstoppable - scoring 10 points! Zawiercie fought until the end but could not find an answer to Perugia’s near-flawless volleyball, backed by the loud support of thousands of Italian fans inside the arena. Although the Polish side managed to save two match points, a long serve from Miguel Tavares eventually sealed the set 25-15 and with it the title for Perugia. The Italian champions successfully defended their crown and became only the second Italian club in history to win back-to-back #CLVolleyM titles.

Wassim Ben Tara finished as the match’s top scorer with 24 points for Sir Sicoma Monini Perugia, including 18 kills at 58% attacking efficiency, 3 blocks and 3 aces. He was supported by Oleh Plotnytskyi and Roberto Russo, who contributed 12 and 10 points respectively.For Aluron CMC Warta Zawiercie, Mateusz Bieniek scored 9 points, while Aaron Russell and Bartłomiej Bołądź added 8 points each.

#CLVolleyM Dream Team 2026
Opposite: Wassim Ben Tara (Sir Sicoma Monini Perugia)
Setter: Simone Gianneli (Sir Sicoma Monini Perugia)
Libero: Massimo Colaci (Sir Sicoma Monini Perugia)
Middle blockers: Mateusz Bieniek (Aluron CMC Warta Zawiercie) and Jurii Gladyr (Aluron CMC Warta Zawiercie)
Outside hitters: Oleh Plotnytskyi (Sir Sicoma Monini Perugia) and Tomasz Fornal (Ziraat Bankkart Ankara)
Head coach: Angelo Lorenzetti (Sir Sicoma Monini Perugia)
MVP: Massimo Colaci (Sir Sicoma Monini Perugia)