The 2024 Club World Championship got off to an electrifying start in Uberlândia, Brazil, with fans eager to see some of the best volleyball teams in the world compete. Italian clubs Trentino Itas and Cucine Lube Civitanova had very different starts to their campaigns, setting the stage for an intriguing tournament. However, the biggest story of the day was the heartbreak for local fans as Praia Clube, a home favorite, fell to Egypt’s Al Ahly in a surprising upset that left the arena stunned.
Trentino Itas Dominates Shahdab Yazd
Trentino Itas secured a commanding 3-0 victory over Iran’s Shahdab Yazd (25-12, 25-22, 25-21). With standout performances from Daniele Lavia (12 points) and Alessandro Michieletto (10 points), the Italian side set the tone for their tournament. They next face Argentina’s Ciudad Voley on Wednesday.
Civitanova Falls Short Against Foolad Sirjan Iranian
In a nail-biting five-set thriller, Cucine Lube Civitanova fell to Foolad Sirjan Iranian 3-2 (25-21, 14-25, 24-26, 25-23, 16-14). Despite strong efforts by Nikolov and Lagumdzija, each contributing 18 points, Civitanova couldn’t seal the win. They aim to bounce back on Wednesday against Brazil’s Praia Clube.
Other Matches: Praia Clube Stumbles in Opener
Brazil’s Praia Clube lost their debut match to Egypt’s Al Ahly 3-1 (25-23, 23-25, 25-21, 27-25). Top scorer Maicon (20 points) led Praia, but critical errors and challenges in service consistency proved costly.
Day 1 Results
- Trentino Itas 3-0 Shahdab Yazd (25-12, 25-22, 25-21)
- Foolad Sirjan Iranian 3-2 Cucine Lube Civitanova (25-21, 14-25, 24-26, 25-23, 16-14)
- Al Ahly 3-1 Praia Clube (25-23, 23-25, 25-21, 27-25)
