Trentino Volley win Champions League

Trentino Volley won the Volleyball Champions League by beating Iraklis Thessaloniki 3-1 (25-12, 21-25, 26-24, 25-22) in the final at the Final Four in Prague.

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The Italians made a storming start to the match as they raced into 8-2 and 16-6 leads in the opening set before finally taking it 25-12.

However, the Greeks fought back and always just about kept their noses in front in the second set to level matters up 1-1.

The third set was the key one of the match – Iraklis led 23-22 at one stage but then a key block from Nikolai Grbic shifted the momentum before Trentino finally took the set 26-24 on their second set point.

The fourth set also hung on a knife edge at 22-22 but then two big service winners from MVP Matey Kaziyski helped guide Trentino over the finishing line.

It was the first ever major European trophy for Trentino who were only founded in 2000.

In the bronze medal game Russian outfit Iskra Odintsovo defeated another Italian side Lube Banca Marche Macerata in five sets (25-23, 25-23, 28-30, 21-25, 17-15).