The men’s club volleyball season officially got underway across Europe this week, and for the most part, the continent’s #CLVolleyM powerhouses delivered as expected. From Italy to Poland, the elite teams began their domestic campaigns with convincing wins, while in Turkey, Ziraat lifted the season’s first trophy. The only real shock came from Germany, where the reigning champions BR Volleys suffered a rare straight-sets defeat in their opener.
In Türkiye, the spotlight was on the Turkish Super Cup Final, where reigning Efeler League champions Ziraat Bankası Ankara faced last year’s Turkish Cup winners Fenerbahçe Istanbul. Fenerbahçe started stronger, taking the opening set, but Ziraat quickly imposed their rhythm and controlled the remainder of the match to claim a 3-1 victory (19-25, 25-22, 25-18, 25-17). It marked Ziraat’s fourth Super Cup title in the past five years, further confirming their domestic dominance. Dutch opposite Nimir Abdel-Aziz was the undisputed star of the night, scoring an incredible 34 points, including four aces and one block, earning the MVP award. Outside hitter Tomasz Fornal added 12 points in support, while Adis Lagumdzija’s 12 points were not enough to keep Fenerbahçe in contention.
In Poland, the country’s CEV Champions League Volley representatives made ideal starts to their PlusLiga campaigns. PGE Projekt Warszawa handled CHKS Chełm in straight sets (3-0: 25-23, 25-22, 25-23), while Asseco Resovia Rzeszów recovered from a slow start to defeat Ślepsk Suwałki 3-1 (17-25, 25-16, 25-17, 25-18). Both sides showed the balance and efficiency expected from title contenders.
The story was similar in Italy, where the league’s #CLVolleyM giants made smooth starts. Defending European champions Sir Sicoma Monini Perugia, national champions Itas Trentino, and perennial contenders Cucine Lube Civitanova each earned commanding three-point wins to open their SuperLega seasons, reaffirming their reputation in the national aspect.
The biggest surprise of the week came in Germany, where Berlin Recycling Volleys, winners of the last nine Bundesliga titles, fell unexpectedly to VfB Friedrichshafen in straight sets (0-3: 18-25, 21-25, 32-34). Despite a close third set, Berlin never fully found their rhythm. Friedrichshafen’s Simon Kohn delivered an exceptional performance, earning MVP honors for leading his side to victory. Meanwhile, fellow #CLVolleyM participant SVG Lüneburg showed grit and resilience, rallying from two sets down to defeat Barock Volleys MTV Ludwigsburg 3-2 (23-25, 17-25, 25-21, 25-21, 15-12) behind a strong showing from Nyherowo Omene.
With most #CLVolleyM teams opening their seasons with victories, the first week set the tone for what promises to be another thrilling year of European men’s volleyball — a season where familiar giants will again look to defend their supremacy, and new challengers may rise to test them.