Aluron CMC Warta Zawiercie and SVG Lüneburg opened their CEV Champions League campaigns with strong performances on home soil, each securing 3–1 victories to begin Pool D on a high note.
Zawiercie Outlast Resovia in All-Polish Derby
Aluron CMC Warta Zawiercie rallied from a one-set deficit to defeat domestic rivals Asseco Resovia Rzeszów 3–1 (32–34, 25–22, 25–16, 25–20) in a fiery Polish showdown at Arena Sosnowiec.
Resovia edged an intense opening set, surviving seven Zawiercie set points before Klemen Cebulj’s ace delivered the 34–32 win. But Zawiercie quickly regrouped. Led by an outstanding performance from opposite Bartłomiej Bołądź, the hosts tightened their attack and block to take control of the match. Bołądź powered the turnaround with 25 points and was deservedly named MVP, while Bartosz Kwolek added 17.
Resovia’s top scorer, Karol Butryn, produced a remarkable 27-point effort, but his team could not maintain the early tempo as Zawiercie dominated the third and fourth sets with improved serving and transition play.
Lüneburg Hold Off Sporting CP for Opening Victory
In Wednesday’s second Pool D contest, SVG Lüneburg defeated Champions League newcomers Sporting CP Lisboa 3–1 (25–18, 25–19, 23–25, 25–23) in front of an energized LKH Arena crowd.
Outside hitter Daniel Gruvaeus set the tone early, scoring 7 points in the first set and continuing his dominant form throughout the night. Lüneburg controlled the first two sets with sharp serving and balanced attacking contributions from Axel Lund and Ethan Champlin.
Sporting CP fought back with renewed intensity in the third set, driven by Edson Valencia Gonzalez, who matched Gruvaeus with 20 points overall. The visitors claimed the set 25–23 to extend the match, but Lüneburg regained composure in the fourth, holding off a late push from the Portuguese side to close the match.