News Mercato Italia | 12 gennaio 2026, 08:01

Volleyball.it daily roundup – January 11, 2026

Poriya case / 1 – Civitanova: Nikolov apologizes after the win over Padova

CIVITANOVA – After Lube Civitanova’s victory against Padova, Aleksandar Nikolov spoke to clarify and correct what he had said in recent days on Twitch, when he criticized how the club handled the Poriya situation.

Nikolov said: "Before talking about the match, I want to take a moment to apologize to all the fans, to the Lube club and in particular to President Fabio Giulianelli for the words and comments I made about the Iranian player’s situation. I said it instinctively. I felt bad for a teammate because I had seen ugly things written about him—not by the club, but by Italian social media in general. It was an impulsive reaction, and I’m sorry."
He then reiterated his bond with the club: "I am Lube, I was and I will be. Giulianelli gave me a chance of a lifetime, and he didn’t deserve words like that from me. I apologize once again."

Poriya case / 2 – Milan: Piazza replies to Cormio, “Ethics? He should look at home first. On Poriya, I have proof”

MILAN – After a hard-fought win over Cisterna, coach Roberto Piazza tackled the hottest topic of the last few days: the Poriya case, the accusations of alleged wrongdoing, and the debate over “ethics” and the dual role, sparked by Lube GM Beppe Cormio.

Piazza said: "I’ve been dragged into this in a bad way. Anyone who knows me knows exactly how I work with the guys. If there were doubts, a phone call would have been enough."

He then laid out his version of the timeline: "The player in question is Poriya. I know he doesn’t speak English perfectly, but I have all the documentation to prove what I said is true, and it refers to May 2025, not today. On December 18 I spoke with him and told him he had to stay at Lube. Then he never called me again. Something doesn’t add up."

The sharpest passage was aimed directly at Cormio: "I was called out on an issue of ethics. If someone wants to lecture others on ethics, he should look at home first. Two years ago we played a match in Civitanova with four middle blockers on court because, despite five Covid positives, the league had voted that we had to play anyway. Ethics, apparently, only matters when it concerns others."

On the dual-role topic, another jab: "Cormio says whoever coaches two teams must pay a tax. But you don’t become ethical by going to a pharmacy to buy ten grams of ethics. The ban on dual roles exists only in Italy. If Civitanova don’t like it, they just shouldn’t hire coaches with a double role. That’s it."

Superlega Credem Banca – Match of the day

Verona complete the comeback in the Derby dell’Adige: Trento–Verona 2–3

TRENTO – Rana Verona won the 51st Derby dell’Adige at the BTS Arena by overturning a 0–2 deficit: Itas Trentino led early, but Verona grew into the match and closed it 2–3 (25–20, 25–20, 22–25, 18–25, 13–15). The away win ended Trento’s run of 13 straight seasonal wins and snapped their home Regular Season unbeaten streak that had lasted since October 27, 2024 (27 consecutive matches). In the standings, Trento slip to third, overtaken by Perugia and Verona: the two leaders are level on points (36), but Fabio Soli’s team have one more win.

Trento controlled the first two sets through serve, block and side-out efficiency, leaning on Michieletto and Faure (15 points each). From the third set onward, Verona raised the pressure in the break phase, found more continuity at the net, and forced the match to a tie-break. In the fifth, Verona’s serving impact proved decisive in the final sprint.

MVP and top scorer was Noumory Keita with 29 points, supported by Darlan Ferreira Souza (21 points, 4 aces). For Trento, Ramon and Flavio also finished with 11 each.

After the match, Marcelo Mendez said: "It was a long battle and we managed to play at a high level only in the first two sets, thanks to the quality of our serve and block. After that we dropped in those fundamentals and Verona grew a lot, putting us under big pressure on our attack phase. The tie-break was decided by two points. Our regret is the lack of continuity in the second part of the match, but we have to restart from what we did at the beginning."

Serie A1 Tigotà – Match of the day

Conegliano win in Turin: Chieri–Conegliano 2–3, Haak MVP

TORINO – Prosecco DOC A. Carraro Imoco Conegliano took two points from the Pala Gianni Asti and stayed top of the table, winning 2–3 (25–22, 21–25, 25–17, 18–25, 12–15) away to Reale Mutua Fenera Chieri ’76. It was a match played in bursts: Chieri went in front twice, Conegliano responded, and then turned the match from the fourth set before closing it in the tie-break.

Conegliano started better, but Chieri flipped the first set with a decisive serving run from Van Aalen (from 19–22 to 25–22). Conegliano answered in the second (21–25). Chieri then dominated the third (25–17), only for Conegliano to force the fifth with an 18–25 fourth set. In the tie-break, Conegliano opened 1–4, Chieri came back to 7–7, but the visitors kept a small margin and finished 12–15.

In the scoresheet, Nervini and Nemeth both posted 21 for Chieri. Conegliano spread the load: Haak 21 (MVP), Zhu 19, Gabi 17.

Transfer market

De Cecco to Novosibirsk, Boninfante to Zenit St. Petersburg; Lube set to add Simeon Nikolov

SOFIA – According to Sportal.bg, Luciano De Cecco has signed with Lokomotiv Novosibirsk for next season, while Lube setter Mattia Boninfante is reportedly headed to Zenit St. Petersburg (in Russia, the figure mentioned is €300,000). In this scenario, Cucine Lube Civitanova are expected to make official the arrival of 19-year-old setter Simeon Nikolov, meaning brothers Alexander and Simeon Nikolov would play together again at club level.

Champions League Women

Istanbul to host the Final Four in 2026 and 2027

ISTANBUL (Turkey) – Fenerbahçe Sports Club announced that Istanbul will host the CEV Zeren Group Champions League Women’s Final Four for two years. The 2026 edition is scheduled for May 2–3, 2026 at the Ülker Sports Arena.

Organizational details will be presented at a press conference on Tuesday, January 13 at 16:30, at the Altunizade Suites Istanbul (Curio Collection by Hilton), with the participation of club Secretary General Orhan Demirel and CEV President Roko Sikirić.

Poland

Bogdanka LUK Lublin win the 2025/26 Polish Cup, Resovia beaten 3–0

CRACOW (Poland) – Bogdanka LUK Lublin won the TAURON Puchar Polski 2025/26, claiming the first Polish Cup in the club’s history with a 3–0 victory over Asseco Resovia Rzeszów (25–15, 25–20, 25–20).

The Final Four path included Lublin’s 3–2 semifinal over Indykpol AZS Olsztyn (with Sasak MVP, 24 points) and Resovia’s 3–0 semifinal over PGE Projekt Warszawa (Janusz MVP). In the final, Lublin set the tone early, with Wilfredo Leon’s serving runs opening a gap and Resovia struggling to find a consistent terminal in attack.

Individual awards

Best setter: Marcin Komenda
Best middle blocker: Aleks Grozdanow
Best libero: Thales Hoss
Best opposite: Kewin Sasak
Best outside hitter: Wilfredo Leon
MVP: Kewin Sasak

Sunday results

Serie A1 Tigotà – Round 6 (return leg): results and standings

MODENA – Results from Round 6 of the Serie A1 Tigotà Regular Season (return leg), updated standings and next round.

RESULTS

Eurotek Laica Uyba – Savino Del Bene Scandicci 0-3 (18-25, 15-25, 19-25)
Igor Gorgonzola Novara – Wash4green Monviso Volley 3-1 (25-20, 20-25, 25-21, 25-23)
Reale Mutua Fenera Chieri ’76 – Prosecco Doc A.Carraro Imoco Conegliano 2-3 (25-22, 21-25, 25-17, 18-25, 12-15)
Numia Vero Volley Milano – Bartoccini-Mc Restauri Perugia 3-0 (25-18, 25-19, 25-19)
Il Bisonte Firenze – Honda Cuneo Granda Volley 3-0 (25-21, 25-23, 25-19)
Omag-Mt San Giovanni in Marignano – Cbf Balducci Hr Macerata 2-3 (22-25, 25-22, 25-18, 23-25, 17-19)
Bergamo – Megabox Ond. Savio Vallefoglia 2-3 (25-21, 25-18, 12-25, 24-26, 12-15)

STANDINGS

Prosecco Doc A.Carraro Imoco Conegliano 51 (19)
Savino Del Bene Scandicci 49 (19)
Numia Vero Volley Milano 43 (19)
Reale Mutua Fenera Chieri ’76 41 (19)
Igor Gorgonzola Novara 39 (19)
Megabox Ond. Savio Vallefoglia 34 (19)
Bergamo 22 (19)
Il Bisonte Firenze 21 (19)
Cbf Balducci Hr Macerata 21 (19)
Honda Cuneo Granda Volley 20 (19)
Eurotek Laica Uyba 20 (19)
Wash4green Monviso Volley 15 (19)
Bartoccini-Mc Restauri Perugia 12 (19)
Omag-Mt San Giovanni in Marignano 11 (19)

Superlega Credem Banca – Round 4 (return leg): results and standings (Perugia alone at the top)

MODENA – Results from Round 4 of the Superlega Credem Banca 2025/26 Regular Season (return leg), updated standings and next round.

RESULTS

Itas Trentino – Rana Verona 2-3 (25-20, 25-20, 22-25, 18-25, 13-15)
Sir Susa Scai Perugia – Valsa Group Modena 3-1 (27-25, 19-25, 25-21, 25-20)
Cucine Lube Civitanova – Sonepar Padova 3-0 (25-17, 27-25, 30-28)
Gas Sales Bluenergy Piacenza – Vero Volley Monza 3-0 (25-21, 25-22, 25-13)
Allianz Milano – Cisterna Volley 3-1 (25-19, 25-21, 30-32, 25-21)
MA Acqua S.Bernardo Cuneo – Yuasa Battery Grottazzolina 3-0 (25-23, 25-23, 25-18)

STANDINGS