Redazione Volleyball.it
Champions League
CEV website offline: a blackout at the worst possible time
The official CEV website has been offline for more than two weeks, and the feeling—honestly—is like being thrown back to the early 2000s: when updates arrived by fax, results were discovered the day after, and to understand a draw you had to chase clubs’ posts on Twitter or Facebook, hoping someone would update quickly enough to piece together the pools like a puzzle.
From a modern European confederation, you would expect a different level of care—above all, faster resolution.
The timing makes it worse. This outage lands right on the decisive Champions League men’s matchday: the round that determines who goes straight to the quarterfinals, who is forced through the playoffs, who drops into the CEV Cup, and who is simply done for the season in Europe. In a sport that doesn’t enjoy the same wall-to-wall TV coverage as football’s Champions League or basketball’s EuroLeague, the official website should be the reference point for media and fans. Instead, to know what’s happening in Poland, Turkey, Germany or France, you’re left relying on clubs’ social updates—meaning if a club’s communication isn’t strong, the information just doesn’t arrive.
Yes, the site being offline is a major slip—but it doesn’t erase progress made elsewhere in volleyball. That’s exactly why it clashes so sharply. A competition that wants to grow in international credibility cannot afford a prolonged information blackout in the heart of the season.
And there’s one last contradiction: the CEV demands high standards from clubs and sanctions those who fail to meet requirements and procedures—even in organizational and communication areas. This time, it feels like the CEV should fine itself.
Communication isn’t a detail. It’s part of the product. And in the decisive days of a European competition, it can’t be left to chance.
Champions League Men
Trento: Ankara at the BTS Arena to secure the best European ranking; Flavio also sidelined
TRENTO – The group phase reaches its final act for Trentino Itas on Wednesday, February 18 (20:30) at the BTS Arena against Ziraat Bankkart Ankara in Pool A’s sixth matchday.
The Italian champions have already sealed a place in the knockout stage thanks to the win in Ljubljana, which guaranteed second place and a 14th straight appearance in the competition’s final phase. But the match still carries weight: a positive result would allow Trento to finish as the best second-place team across the five pools—potentially improving the theoretical draw in the first elimination round.
Coach Marcelo Mendez framed the challenge clearly: "Even if the standings are already defined, this will be an important match for several reasons. The three points would help both us and them to obtain the best possible ranking for the final bracket. It’s also a chance to measure ourselves against one of the best teams in the competition and understand our current level. Matches like these are worth more than many training sessions because they keep you under pressure for the full duration. It’s a great opportunity to grow—technically, tactically, and mentally."
Trento will be without Michieletto and Flavio, the latter rested as a precaution due to lower back pain. For the club it will be the 241st official international match: 192 wins and 48 losses overall.
Ankara already through to the quarterfinals
Ziraat are already assured of first place and direct quarterfinal qualification. They lead Pool A with a perfect record and would remain top even in defeat thanks to a superior points quotient on equal wins. The roster features major international names, including Fornal, Clevenot, opposite Nimir Abdel-Aziz (ex Trento), and Dick Kooy.
Pool A picture
With first and second already settled, only third place remains open between ACH Volley Ljubljana and Tours—the third-ranked team will move into the CEV Cup Playoffs.
Officials: Blaz Markelj (Slovenia), Laszlo Adler (Hungary).
Perugia: in Berlin to close the group and protect first place in Pool C
BERLIN – Perugia wrap up their Champions League group stage on Tuesday night (19:30) at the Max-Schmeling-Halle against Berlin Recycling Volleys.
The Block Devils are already qualified for the quarterfinals after last week’s 3–0 win in Prague, combined with Berlin’s loss in Las Palmas. The objective now is to secure top spot in Pool C and improve seeding among the five group winners.
Perugia arrived in Germany today and completed strength work in the morning before an afternoon technical session on the match taraflex. Opposite Wassim Ben Tara underlined the rhythm of this stretch: "We’re working very well and preparing for tomorrow. We’re playing every three days, with travel too, but we’re optimizing the little time we have to be ready for each match. Physically I think we’re ready, and tomorrow will be very important for us—but also for them."
Berlin still have qualification motivations, and Ben Tara expects an intense atmosphere: "It will be a tough match because they play for qualification, they’re at home and they will push even more. We want to win to get a better spot for the next round. The important thing is to win—who we’ll face in the quarterfinals, we don’t think about that now."
A sell-out crowd of 8,553 is expected.
Officials: Ozan Cagi Sarikaya (Turkey), Marie Catherine Boulanger (Belgium).
Champions League Women
Milano in full control in Greece: 3–0 Olympiacos, Egonu top scorer
Playoff – First leg
Olympiacos Piraeus – Numia Vero Volley Milano 0–3 (20–25, 21–25, 17–25)
ATHENS (Greece) – Milano take a major step toward the quarterfinals with a clean 3–0 away win at the Melina Merkouri Rentis. Paola Egonu led the scoring with 17 points. For Olympiacos, Kubura scored 16 and Abderrahim 11. Milano also received strong output from the middle: Danesi 10, Kurtagic 10 (including 6 blocks).
The numbers point to Milano’s edge at the net: 12 blocks to 6, and 43% in attack versus 38%. The return match is scheduled for Tuesday, February 25 (20:30) at the Opiquad Arena in Monza.
Emma Cagnin: "This first Playoff match wasn’t easy. On the other side there was a team that defends well and always makes us sweat. Substitutions were needed and I’m happy I could contribute. Teams like Olympiacos are very aggressive in serving and defend a lot—things we aren’t as used to in our league. We managed them and got a very important win. Now we prepare for the return match and hope to go through and start looking at the quarterfinal matchups."
Novara–Scandicci: Champions League derby tonight at Pala Igor
NOVARA – An all-Italian showdown in Europe: Igor Gorgonzola Novara host Savino Del Bene Scandicci tonight at 18:00 in the first leg of the Champions League Playoffs. Novara are aiming for a fifth quarterfinal qualification; Scandicci arrive with second place in Serie A1 already secured.
Setter Carlotta Cambi described the mood: "The loss to Cuneo hurts, because it wiped out our chase for fourth place. In that sense, having such an important match right away is a good thing: it gives us a chance to turn disappointment into competitive anger. We want to play an excellent match against a very strong opponent; in the league our games were battles decided by small details, and this time we’ll try to make the balance tip our way."
Scandicci preview: first European meeting with Novara
SCANDICCI – Savino Del Bene return to Champions League action with an unprecedented European pairing: first leg on February 18 at 18:00 in Novara, return on February 25 at 18:00 in Florence. Head coach Marco Gaspari called it the toughest possible draw: "The Champions League draw couldn’t have been harder. Unfortunately, at this stage we face Novara… We know their value: we’ve played them many times and we can’t afford to lower our guard in either match."
Other European Cups
Allianz Milano: Challenge Cup quarterfinal return vs Norwid for a semifinal spot
MILANO – Allianz host Steam Hemarpol Norwid Częstochowa on Wednesday (20:30) at the Allianz Cloud in the Challenge Cup quarterfinal second leg. After a 3–0 away win in Poland, Milano need two sets to qualify and avoid a potential golden set.
Coach Roberto Piazza: "Wednesday we have a match against Częstochowa that is vital for us. They played good volleyball at home, but they can do much better. I made sure we prepared in the best way because advancing in Challenge Cup is the most important goal right now. Then we’ll think about the last two SuperLega matches, but first we must keep going in Europe."
European Transfer Market
France: Tours announce a two-year deal with Ngapeth
TOURS (France) – Earvin Ngapeth returns to where it began: Tours Volley-Ball have announced the French outside hitter’s comeback on a two-year contract for 2026/27 and 2027/28, with a stated horizon already looking toward Los Angeles 2028. Tours frame the signing as both a high-level technical move and a symbolic homecoming—opening “a new chapter” for the club.
SuperLega
LegaVolley: “Ten times Bologna” – Coppa Italia 2026 after-movie online
BOLOGNA – LegaVolley released the official after-movie of the 48th Del Monte Coppa Italia, titled “Ten times Bologna, the city of the Coppa Italia.” The video blends exclusive behind-the-scenes footage with Italian and English commentary and includes interviews with Massimo Righi, Riccardo Sbertoli, Rok Mozic, Angelo Lorenzetti, and Alessandro Bovolenta.
Serie A1 Women
A1 Tigotà: Rebecca Piva named January MVP
MILANO – Rebecca Piva (Numia Vero Volley Milano) is the SisalTipster MVP of the Month for January, finishing ahead of Joanna Wolosz, Maja Ognjenovic and Jolien Knollema. In January she scored 56 points with 56% in attack, adding 6 blocks and 1 ace, and earned three match MVP awards. The trophy will be presented on the final regular-season day, when Milano host Scandicci on Saturday, February 21.
