First Semifinal of the 2026 CEV Champions League:
PGE Projekt Warsaw – Sir Sicoma Monini Perugia 0-3 (19-25, 20-25, 24-26)
A clear score, but a great show this afternoon at the Inalpi Arena in Turin kicks off the CEV Champions League Final Four.
The Italian champions overcame their Polish rivals to reach their second consecutive European final, also qualifying for the next edition of the Club World Cup. With a 3-0 victory over PGE Projekt Warsaw, thanks largely to undisputed dominance in the first two sets, Sir Sicoma Monini Perugia celebrates their passage to the final round of the CEV Champions League.
The defending champions from Umbria will return to the Piedmontese stadium tomorrow, Sunday, May 17 (8:30 pm), to defend the trophy they won last year. On the other side of the net will be the winner of the second semifinal between Poland’s Aluron CMC Warta Zawiercie and Turkey’s Ziraat Bankkart Ankara, who will be at the net today at 8:30 PM in search of a spot.
Angelo Lorenzetti’s men played a nearly straightforward match, with two major scares: Ben Tara’s injury (18 points) in the second set and the comeback suffered in the sprint of a third set that ended in deuce with Plotnytskyi’s ace, the Bianconeri’s tenth point. Loser and Semeniuk also scored in double figures. Giannelli and Colaci also played a key role.
Angelo Lorenzetti (Sir Sicoma Monini Perugia coach):
“The match was tense on both ends. When Warsaw accelerated on serve, we didn’t respond as we know how. These situations happen in volleyball when you think you have the result in the bag, and then the matches become dangerous. The boys played well and were determined to close out the game without risking a rebound. I emphasize that we are certain of participating in the next World Championship, a goal achieved with the contribution of those who will not be there next year. Now we are in the final knowing that Ankara and Zawiercie are bad customers.
PGE Projekt Warszawa (POL) – Sir Sicoma Monini Perugia 0-3 (19-25, 20-25, 24-26) – PGE Projekt Warszawa (POL): Kochanowski 6, Firlej, Klos 4, Tillie 12, Semeniuk 4, Gomułka 19, Koppers 3, Wojtaszek, Firszt 5, Weber 1, Kozlowski. N.E. Olenderek, Strulak. Coach: Nalepka. Sir Sicoma Monini Perugia: Dzavoronok, Cvanciger, Giannelli 6, Loser 10, Ben Tara 18, Solé 1, Colaci, Ishikawa, Semeniuk 10, Plotnytskyi 10, Russo 5. N.E. Argilagos, Gaggini, Crosato. Coach: Lorenzetti. REFEREES: Pop, Ovuka. NOTES – set duration: 29′, 31′, 36′; total: 96′. PGE Projekt Warszawa (POL): Wrong serves: 9; Winners: 3. Sir Sicoma Monini Perugia: Wrong serves: 4; Winners: 5.
