Champions League: Perugia rejected Aluron’s comeback to take 2025 title! Bronze for Jastrzębski

Sir Sicoma Monini Perugia is the new European Champion!
Italian powerhouse rejected Aluron CMC Warta Zawiercie’s comeback to clinch maiden title in the CEV Champions League, making history on Saturday night, after a dramatic 2-3 (22:25, 22:25, 25:20, 25:22, 10:15) victory at a well-attended Atlas Arena in Łódź.
The thrilling final, filled with energy tension and high-level volleyball, was a rollercoaster, with Perugia racing to a two-set lead thanks to strong showings from Wassim Ben Tara, Oleh Plotnytskyi and Yuki Ishikawa.
However the rivals, led by Aaron Russell, top scorer at the end of the match with 25 points through 51% attack, clawed their way back into the match, leveling the score at 2:2 and forcing a decisive fifth set.
Despite the momentum, Perugia regrouped quickly and, again with Ishikawa (20 points), Ben Tara (22) and a strong support from Plotnytskyi (18 pts), they took control early in the final set and never lost their lead.
The victory is a milestone also for veteran coach Angelo Lorenzetti, who finally lifted the Champions League trophy after multiple final setbacks.

Tournament’s Dream Team, in Awards Ceremony, was also announced:
• MVP: Simone Giannelli (Sir Sicoma Monini Perugia)
• Best setter: Simone Giannelli (Sir Sicoma Monini Perugia)
• Best opposite: Wassim Ben Tara (Sir Sicoma Monini Perugia)
• Best outside hitter: Tomasz Fornal (Jastrzębski Węgiel)
• Best outside hitter: Oleh Plotnytskyi (Sir Sicoma Monini Perugia)
• Best libero: Luke Perry (Aluron CMC Warta Zawiercie)
• Best middle blocker: Anton Brehme (Jastrzębski Węgiel)
• Best middle blocker: Mateusz Bieniek (Aluron CMC Warta Zawiercie)

Meanwhile, Jastrzębski Węgiel overcame the disappointment of their elimination in the semi-final to secure the bronze medals with a 3-1 (25:22; 26:24; 20:25; 25:18) win over Halkbank Ankara.
After missing the chance to secure their third consecutive appearance in the final of CEV Champions League, they reacted, winning a spectacular first set marked by Tomasz Fornal and Lukasz Kaczmarek, who scored 6 and 4 points respectively with a 75% attacking efficiency, one ace from Timothee Carle and eight errors from their rivals.
Fornal scored seven points also in second set, Kaczmarek added nine more including two aces, while Jastrzębski delivered some decisive blocks, which helped them to close this set in style.
But once again, just like on Saturday, Jastrzębski started to lose steam in the third set. From a 75% attacking efficiency in the first set and a 45% in the second one, they recorded only 32% in third, in which Halkbank took early control, but this time did not look back until the decisive 20:25.
However the Polish side proved they learnt something from the previous match and never let Ankara took back control of the match, closing with a clear 25:18 to clinch the bronze medal.
Tomasz Fornal, Lukasz Kaczmarek and Thimotee Carle closed the game with 23, 19 and 18 points respectively, and Jastrzębski finished for the fifth time on the podium in the European elite competition, with the third place sealed for the third time, after the 2013/14 and 2020/21 season!

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🏐| 2024/25 CEV Champions League | FINALS 📍Atlas Arena Łódź

👉🏼Sunday, May 18, 2025

• 16.00 (Local Time) | JSW Jastrzębski Węgiel (POL) – Halkbank Ankara (TUR) 3-1 (25:22, 26:24, 20:25, 25:18)
| PHOTOGALLERY OF THE MATCH

• 20.05 (Local Time) | Aluron CMC Warta Zawiercie (POL) – Sir Sicoma Monini Perugia (ITA) 2-3 (22:25, 22:25, 25:20, 25:22, 10:15)
| PHOTOGALLERY OF THE MATCH