Italians defeated by Jurassic Knights! Two Polish clubs in the Champions League finals
Aluron CMC Warta Zawiercie in the Final Four of the Champions League! The Polish runner-up volleyball players eliminated the Italian Cucine Lube Civitanova and will go to the finals in Turin.
It is worth recalling that coach Michał Winiarski’s team reached the grand final of the Champions League in the previous season (i.e. 2024/25). Ultimately, in the Atlas Arena in Łódź, the Jurassic Knights won the European club vice-championship.
Now we know for sure that Aluron CMC Warta Zawiercie will be among the best four in the Old Continent for the second year in a row. This was decided by the two-legged win in the quarterfinals against Cucine Lube Civitanova. The Italians lost 0:3 at home, and in Sosnowiec – where the team from Zawiercie plays their matches – they lost the next two games (0:2), thus losing any hopes of reversing the fate of the competition with the Polish team.
Jurassic Knights are in the Champions League Final Four. Cucine Lube Civitanova on your knees!
After the weekend’s events, in the context of the team from Zawiercie, one could have some doubts about what coach Winiarski’s team would look like – especially mentally. The Jurassic Knights lost 2:3 to ZAKSA Kędzierzyn-Koźle in the quarterfinals of PlusLiga. The Polish runners-up already had a match with a score of 2-0 in sets, but they were unable to close the competition in their favor, which is why they are one match – and on the rival’s territory – from being eliminated from the competition for medals in the country.
However, this is what the Jurassic Knights will worry about on Monday – because the second quarterfinal match is scheduled for that day, this time in Kędzierzyn-Koźle. Cucine Lube Civitanova learned the hard way that the Zawiercie team can have bad days, but in moments of real testing, it does not break.
The visitors from Italy had something to say only in the first set in the context of any chance of changing the fate of the Champions League quarterfinals. Ultimately, however, the result was 25:22 after 24 minutes of play. Jurij Gladyr closed the set with a service ace, delighting the packed stands of the facility in Sosnowiec. Apart from one sector – Italian fans who came to support their favorites from Civitanova.
The second set was… a real execution. The hosts quickly took a several-point lead, preventing the Italian team from getting any closer. The Italians had their own problems. Already in the first part, they gave up as many as 10 points to their opponents after their mistakes. And it is so difficult to think about effective competition at the level of the Champions League quarterfinals.
The match ended with a 3-0 win for the Jurassic Knights. MVP award? It was received by Bartłomiej Bołądź, attacking the hosts.
Let us remind you that another Polish team – PGE Projekt Warszawa – also made it to the Final Four. In the case of the capital club, the decisive factor was the two-legged win against Bogdanka LUK Lublin. The Polish champions, like Cucine Lube, lost the opening two sets in the rematch – and with a 1-3 defeat in the first match – the excitement of the promotion game came to an end.
The Final Four Champions League tournament will take place in Turin on May 16-17. Sir Sicoma Monini Perugia will defend the title from last year (Kamil Semeniuk defends the club’s colors). The Italian tycoon will play against PGE Projekt in the semi-finals. The second pair consists of Jurajska Knights and Ziraat Bankkart Ankara – with Tomasz Fornal in the lineup.
