Champions League Volley 2026: Defending Champions and Dominant Blockers Mark Winning Start to Pool Play

The 2025/2026 CEV Champions League Volley Men (#CLVolleyM) group stage commenced with a trio of home victories across Europe. From the strategic intensity in Italy to the blocking clinic in Poland and the standout individual performance in Germany, the opening night established immediate performance benchmarks for the competition. Defending champions Sir Sicoma Monini Perugia, PGE Projekt Warszawa, and SVG Lüneburg all secured crucial early points, though their paths to victory were distinctly unique.

The Unexpected Early Test: Perugia`s Composed Recovery (Pool C)

For the defending titleholders, Sir Sicoma Monini Perugia, the opening fixture against VK Lvi Praha was less of a coronation and more of an immediate technical examination. Playing at the Pala Barton, Perugia secured a 3-1 victory (24–26, 25–18, 25–18, 25–19), but only after suffering a brief, and perhaps humbling, setback in the first set.

Praha’s opposite, David Kollátor, served notice to the rest of Europe, delivering an impressive 20 points at 61% attacking efficiency in the opener. This fierce, high-percentage offense pushed the Italian giants to drop the first frame in extended points. It was, however, the last moment of true anxiety for the hosts.

Perugia, guided by setter Simone Giannelli, responded with the kind of calculated efficiency expected of champions. They rapidly accelerated their side-out tempo, tightened their block-defense, and leaned on their deep roster. Outside hitter Kamil Semeniuk delivered a stable 18 points (50% success rate), while Perugia’s overall middle-block game suffocated Praha`s offense, resulting in a 12–7 advantage in team blocks. Sets two through four were executed with clinical precision, affirming Perugia`s status while reminding them that no opponent in the Champions League is a mere formality. Their remarkable group play record now stands at 51 wins in 55 matches—a statistical anomaly in top-tier European sport.

The Polish Wall: Projekt Warszawa`s Blocking Masterclass (Pool E)

In Warsaw, PGE Projekt Warszawa delivered arguably the most dominant performance of the night, sweeping Volley Haasrode Leuven 3-0 (25-17, 25-17, 25-20). This victory was built upon a single, overwhelming technical statistic: the block. Warszawa completely controlled the net, securing a staggering 15-3 advantage in kill blocks—an insurmountable gap at this level of play.

The architect of this defensive fortress was Ukrainian international middle blocker Yurii Semeniuk. The MVP delivered 12 total points, including a match-high six blocks. Semeniuk, who had previously led the 2025 Volleyball Nations League in blocks, reaffirmed his elite status as a net defender. His performance was particularly crucial in the second set, where Warszawa quickly erased an early 5-1 deficit through decisive blocking, ultimately regaining control and confidence.

For Leuven, despite moments of spirited defense, breaking the Polish structure proved impossible. Warszawa’s statistical dominance extended beyond the block, with higher positive reception (48% to 33%) and a cleaner performance in capitalizing on opponent errors, signaling a comprehensive and mature team display. The result extends Warszawa’s perfect record against Belgian opponents in the Champions League to 7-0.

The German Dynamo: Lüneburg and the Gruvaeus Effect (Pool D)

In Lüneburg, Germany, SVG Lüneburg faced Champions League newcomers Sporting CP Lisboa in a competitive four-set battle (25-18, 25-19, 23-25, 25-23). The narrative of this match was defined by the relentless attacking output of one man: Daniel Gruvaeus.

Gruvaeus established his MVP credentials early, driving Lüneburg’s dominance in the first two sets, notably excelling from the service line and in attack. Sharing top scoring honors with Lisboa’s Edson Valencia Gonzalez, Gruvaeus finished with 20 points, becoming the crucial focal point of the German offense.

However, the match demonstrated Lüneburg’s need for consistency. Lisboa, despite their newcomer status, fought fiercely, utilizing strong serving runs from Sergey Grankin and effective attacking from Valencia Gonzalez (7 points in the third set) and Lourenço Martins to steal the third set, injecting immediate tension into the LKH Arena.

The fourth set became a high-stakes, point-for-point exchange. Lüneburg required back-to-back aces from Gruvaeus to create separation (13–9), but Lisboa clawed their way back to a 20-20 tie. It took a clutch late attack from Ethan Champlin and an unforced error from Lisboa to finally seal the victory for the energized German side. The 3-1 win provides Lüneburg with a vital home start in a competitive pool, underscoring the importance of having an in-form individual talent like Gruvaeus.

Looking Ahead

The opening night of #CLVolleyM 2026 confirmed that while pedigree matters, the execution of fundamentals—be it defense (Warszawa), tactical recovery (Perugia), or individual offensive consistency (Lüneburg)—will dictate success. The Champions League campaign is a marathon, but these early statements ensure that the pace at the top is already set high.